AUTUMN 2017
Yes, I will!
SO, WHAT’S NEXT?
Pippa
MIDDLETON’S
Sensational
CELEBRITY CEREMONY
VIRGINIA’S
Fabulous
Flowers
DOVITA’S
Dazzling
Details
GALIAH LAHAV’S
Victorian Affinity ALON LIVNE 2017’s HOTTEST
Bridal Visions
Spain, Gibraltar and The Balearics’ dedicated wedding bible
La Sala Gibraltar Restaurant & Bar is now officially the home for all wedding celebrations, whether it’s the engagement party, the rehearsal dinner, the ceremony or the big day itself. An occasion like no other, in a venue like no other.
For more information about our wedding packages please call our private event coordinator Oliver Medina +34 665 24 63 30 or email: oliver@salagroupholdings.com ¡ www.lasalagibraltar.com
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Cover Photo courtesy of Galia Lahav
Staff PUBLISHER Andy Clark andy@iconpublishing.es
Autumn 2017
FEATURES EDITOR Sinead Blairs sinead@iconpublishing.es
Features, advice, tips, ideas and suggestions to help arrange THE PERFECT WEDDING IN SPAIN AND GIBRALTAR
CREATIVE TEAM Constanza Martínez constanza@iconpublishing.es Olivia Burns olivia@iconpublishing.es HEAD OF COMMERCIAL Andres Abia EDITORIAL TEAM Eleanor McKenzie, KJ Elsdon India Baltran.
Reverie Collection by Paolo Sebastian Photography by Simon Cecere
Fashion 10 Confeti Loves
Original ideas for your Wedding
40 A Royal Affair
Our high-profile celebrity wedding of the season!
42 Engagement Updates
12 Theme Your Day
44 Newly Engaged
14 Aisle Style
48 Real Brides, Real Grooms, Real Weddings
Bohemian Chic!
Pronovias through the ages
19 Bodacious Bouquets by Flor Valentin
24 Designer Profile
Exclusive interview with Alon Livné
30 Trend Alert!
Fabulous Feathers
32 The Art of Glamour by Dovita Bridal
Where to start?
Details 80 Wedding Photo Checklist
Your ‘must-have’ moments for your photographer
84 The Best Bridal Blooms by Virginia Florist
86 DIY Decor
Make your own balloons!
88 Will you be my bridesmaid?
Ideas to ‘pop the question’
90 10 Things to consider before writting your Vows Wedding celebrant, Natasha Johnson’s outlines for writing your vows
94 What Type of Bride are you?
Have you become a Bridezilla? Take the quiz and find out!
96 CONFETI’s
Address Book
The best professionals, specialists and services
CONTRIBUITORS Natasha Johnson, Padre Peter, Nicola McGeorge
All enquiries, please call: +34 600 812 418 or email enquiries@iconpublishing.es The views and opinions expressed by contributors to CONFETI may not represent the views and opinions of the publishers. Icon Publishing takes no responsibility for claims made in advertisements or advertorials in this magazine. No part of CONFETI may be reproduced or copied in any way without the prior written consent of Icon Publishing.
98 Love, Love,
Love This
Quirky Accessories
confetimagazine.com www.confetimagazine.com
· B A R E F O OT A N D B L A C K-T I E C E R E M O N I E S O N T H E S H O R E S O F T H E M E D I T E R R A N E A N · · spectacular views · 5 star service · exquisite cuisine · Kosher Services · Indian Weddings · luxury accommodation · expert in-house wedding planner ·
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AUTUMNAL
Romance
GALA IV Collection by Galia Lahav
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A
utumn in the south of Spain is the ideal time to get hitched; in fact it’s one of the most popular wedding seasons here on the Costa del Sol. With the summer heat and bustle of tourists beginning to disperse, it has proved to be a favourite time for many couples. CONFETI has witnessed some stunning weddings this year, in what we feel has been one of the busiest weddings seasons yet - and it isn’t over, with lots more set to take place in the next couple of months. Rich with warm, golden light and vibrant colours, who wouldn’t to get married in romantic Autumn?
The bridal shows may have come and gone, but CONFETI is, as usual, finding inspiration from the designers launching brand new collections, as well as the ever more lavish real weddings that are taking place right on our doorstep. Make sure you get some ideas first hand from our Real Weddings featuring a very special celebrity ceremony!
Fashion Week). Bohemian and feathery trends seem to motivate Alon Livné, an Israeli designer who has dressed the likes of Beyoncé, Naomi Campbell and Lady Gaga. His bridal collections are the things dreams are made of and, with a campaign shot right here in the heart of Andalucia, our Designer Profile on pages 2428 is a must read!
As always, we bring you the very latest in bridal fashion, with showstopping front AND back covers from one of our favourite designers, Galia Lahav with her Victorian Affinity collection (which we were lucky to have seen ‘in the flesh’ at Barcelona Bridal
This issue is also brimming with ideas for couples that are getting closer to their big day. With help on how to choose your bridesmaids, photo checklist and our DIY tips for all those crafty brides, you need look no further. Worried you’re turning into a Bridezilla? Or are
you a laidback bride that could do with a kick up the bum? Then take our quiz to determine what kind of bride you are. Finally, CONFETI is thrilled to inform our readers that this is our 30th issue! How time flies! We hope to continue to inspire and help future brides for many more issues to come and we are very proud still to be the leading bridal bible on the Costa del Sol! That’s all from us for now and we hope you enjoy our Autum issue. Keep up to date with all the latest news on our Facebook and Instagram pages! @confetimagazine.
The Confeti Team
CONFETI 9
C
GINGER RAY
ONFETI loves...
C
ONFETI Loves keeping you in the know about the latest wedding trends. This Autumn we are seeing more than decadent décor and glamorous bridal looks - it seems that starry constellations are popping up everywhere too. From gowns to invites, your love is written in the stars. It may be Autumn, but in Spain it is still scorching hot, so why not cool down with an adult popsicle? From Kir Royale to Belinis, these would be a hit at any Autumn Wedding. We would certainly like to try one!
SHROPSHIRE PETALS
FORTNUM AND MASON
POPS, WEAREPOPS.COM
FLOWERS BY FLOR VALENTIN PHOTO BY RADKA HORVATH
‘NIKAS’ CLUTCH BY ALDO 10 CONFETI
NURIT HEN
PROJECT PRETTY
ROGER VIVIER ALEKSANDER SIRADEKIAN
TUCCO WEDDINGS LOCATION: VILLA PADIERNA, DECOR & FLOWERS BY PEDRO NAVARRO PHOTO BY VICTOR ALAEZ
JENNY PACKMAN BRIDAL
CONFETI 11
Theme Your Day
Bohemian Chic
I
f your style is more woodland nymph than fairy princess, a bohemian-themed wedding might be just what you’re looking for. Bohemian weddings incorporate an eclectic mix of natural, rustic, and vintage details into the design. A cool, relaxed vibe is ideal for those hot autumn days here in Spain. With shabby chic decor, natural bridal looks and wild flowers, CONFETI just loves the whimsical mood a boho wedding sets. Take a look at how to Theme Your Day by adding some bohemian chic style!
TAMARA COMOLLI PHOTO BY NANI DE PEREZ
FLOWERS BY FLOR VALENTIN PHOTO BY RADKA HORVATH
PHOTOS BY NANI DE PEREZ
GALIA LAHAV 12 CONFETI
PHOTO BY THE LOVE HUNTERS
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Aisle Style
T
his season’s Aisle Style is dedicated to the incredible bridal fashion house that is Pronovias, which has produced some of the most awe inspiring catwalks to date. If you are an avid Confeti reader, you will know that Pronovias was born and bred in Barcelona and has the tricky task of closing Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week every year and, boy, it doesn’t disappoint! From incredible settings, A-list supermodels and, of course, breathtaking gowns, we’ve combined some of our favourite moments from the 2015, 2016 and 2017 runway closing shows. Pronovias is a family business with its origins in El Suizo, a prestigious Barcelona boutique specialising in lace, embroidery, and high-quality silk fabrics, founded by Alberto
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Through the Ages Palatchi Bienveniste in 1922. In 1964 the company presented a collection of prêt-à-porter wedding dresses for the first time in Spain, and the firm Pronovias was born. Since 2000 its international expansion has flourished around the world through flagship stores in cities such as London, New York, Milan, Lisbon, Rome, Berlin, Brussels, and Barcelona among others. With more than 50 years of history, Pronovias operates in over 105 countries with more than 155 stores. Spain today is the second-largest exporter of wedding dresses worldwide. Enough of the history - back to the Aisle Style!...
Here’s what you need to know about the 2015 runway. The ‘Once Upon a Time’ theme paraded a collection of dresses inspired by fairytale princesses with pure lines, volume and delicate, feminine details. The runway itself was absolutely show stopping, with a huge clock backdrop measuring seven by seven metres, built of wood and plexiglass, which came to life when its hands marked the countdown. Add grand columns and larger than life hanging chandeliers and the set exuded a real sense of the dramatic. More than 2,000 guests attended the parade in the Oval Room of the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya in Barcelona, where the the Atelier Collection Pronovias 2016 was presented. For this
2015
season the gowns featured a lot of illusion style dresses, thanks to a sophisticated layering design in which nude colour crystal tulle fabrics came together to create a second-skin effect. The collection was completed with tiaras and jewelled headdresses and were headlined by supermodel Irina Shayk. After a such an incredible 2015 runway the question on everyone’s lips was whether
2016’s could top it? Well, it was certainly a close run thing! This time the theme was ‘Dressing Dreams’, the 2017 Collection being introduced under an amazing light installation featuring 1,000 dimple lights in the ceiling. The Atelier 2017 collection for Autumn/Winter, was put together by Pronovias’ creative director Hervé Moreau. For his second collection for the brand, Moreau offered brides-to-be plenty of inspiration: intricate lace detailing and hand embroidery were teamed with long capes and beautiful crystal embellishment. The gowns were enhanced by the models’ simple, chic-’up’ dos and sparkling hair accessories, perfect for the elegant bride. Not only did supermodel Irina Shayk open and close the show once again, this time Victoria’s Secret models Romee Strijd, Jac Jagaciak, Cindy Bruna and Kate Grigorieva modelled as well. Pronovias presented the upcoming Atelier 2018 Collection
2016
CONFETI 15
Aisle Style of haute couture bridal gowns in a grandiose fashion show that closed the annual Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week in April this year. The renowned runway presentation took place once again at the National Art Museum of Catalonia under the creative concept of ‘A WISH’. For yet another year the runway set-up surprised the guests as this time it included a spectacular wishing
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well, referencing the magical movement of water, its fluidity and shine, which is apparent in all the designs of the new collection. The catwalk was led by international top models as always, which this year included beauties such as Romee Strijd, Cindy Bruna, Bregje Heinen and Martha Hunt. The hair and makeup was romantic and natural, the various hair styles adorned
with floral-inspired accessories. Over 2000 guests attended the special event including front row celebrities such as actress Kate Upton. Both the fashion show and the 2018 Collection itself are defined by the concept of a wish. Taking inspiration from dreams and desires, with water as the main element, this collection highlights the magical movement of waves, the fluidity of currents
2017
and the sparkle of water droplets in exquisite gowns designed to enhance any bride’s femininity. With the past three years of catwalks going down as some of the best in history, the Confeti team cannot wait to see how Pronovias will outdo themselves next year. They seem to continue to take things up a notch and we are sure to be as amazed as always. Watch this space!
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CONFETI 17
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Bodacious Bouquets PHOTOGRAPHY: JESS PETRIE WWW.JESSPETRIE.COM HAIR AND MAKE UP: JESS HILL MAKE UP ARTIST FLOWERS: FLOR VALENTIN DRESSES: HOLA BELLA MODEL: ANNETTA ZARECHNOVA
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WWW.FLORVALENTIN.ES WWW.JESSPETRIE.COM
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PROFESSIONAL M A K E U P A R T I S T, MARBELLA
Unique & Luxurious Photography & Film by
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The Beauty Sp t Where Beauty Begins...
Offering customized Bridal Pamper Packages and Wedding Makeup by consultation
Manicure & Pedicure · CND Shellac · Acrylic nails Waxing & Threading Selection of Luxury MONU Facials Occasion and Bridal Makeup
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Designer Profile
Alon Livné C
ONFETI has fallen head over heels in love with the stunning 2017 bridal collection from Alon Livné, courtesy of this stunning Seville shoot. Livné is fairly new to the bridal scene but, judging by these designs, he is headed straight to the top of bridal fashion after already being a world renowned designer of evening and custom gowns. Since
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the age of 17 Alon has worked in premiere European houses to become Israel’s most prestigious fashion designer, since training at Alexander McQueen in London and Roberto Cavalli in Florence. Before branching out on his own, Alon won first prize in the Israeli version of Project Runway. His stunning designs were televised countrywide and celebrated by
the media and this achievement resulted in national high demand for his elaborate, sculptural work infused with couture details and exquisite handwork. Celebrities and fashion figures such as Naomi Campbell, Lea Michele, and Nina Garcia have been seen wearing Alon Livné’s luxurious gowns. Even Beyonce chose him to be one of the elite fashion houses
tapped to design dresses for her Mrs. Carter Show Tour, which she performed all over the world. Lady Gaga has also chosen Alon Livné as her preferred designer for numerous projects and many appearances. Alon Livné is showing his collections regularly at NYFW, and his bridal line, Alon Livné White, is recognised worldwide for its luxurious and innovative designs.
CONFETI 25
“
I JUST LOVE BEING ABLE TO MAKE WOMEN’S DREAMS COME TRUE.
I KNEW THAT BEING A FASHION DESIGNER WAS MY CALLING WHEN… I started drawing models in gowns at around 5 years old.
I SPECIALISE IN BRIDAL GOWNS BECAUSE…
I just love being able to make women’s dreams come true. Girls come up to me and say their gowns are their childhood fantasies coming to life. It’s just so satisfying to hear…
MY PERSONAL STYLE IS...
Structured and sculptured but clean. Romantic and delicate but strong and bold.
MY BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE…
Relocating my design studio and showroom to Soho in New York City. This allows me to work in one of the biggest international centers of fashion, a fact that has a very positive influence on my creations.
“
I STARTED DRAWING MODELS IN GOWNS AT AROUND 5 YEARS OLD.
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”
”
TRENDS THAT I FEEL WILL BE POPULAR IN 2018… The “over-the-top” sexy-sheer look is fading out to a classier chic and fashionable direction.
I FIND THE INSPIRATION FOR MY GOWNS FROM…
Everywhere! Art, music, my friends and family. Truly everything can inspire.
MY AVERAGE WORKING DAY IS…
“ ”
IT ISN’T EASY, BUT IT’S AMAZING AND EXCITING.
Running around the studio making calls to Tel Aviv while living on a New York City clock and finding time to design both my bridal and ready-towear collections. It isn’t easy, but it’s amazing and exciting.
CONFETI 27
AT THE MOMENT I’M WORKING ON…
My new 2018 bridal collection.
WHAT BRIDES CAN EXPECT FROM MY GOWNS...
A timeless, fashion-forward aesthetic that is 100% unique and original.
MY DESIGNS STAND OUT FROM OTHER LABELS BECAUSE…
I design a high-end ready-towear line which includes frequent celebrity stylings while working on my bridal collections. This influences the bridal line a lot and keeps it fashionable and up-todate. This is something I take pride in.
DESTINATION WEDDING DRESSES MUST BE...
Classy, chic, light and timeless livne-white.com
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“
ROMANTIC AND DELICATE BUT STRONG AND BOLD.
Whether you dream of your wedding on the beach at the sunset, high in the mountains, or overlooking a valley dotted with vineyards, we will help you make your wedding dreams reality. Our team of professionals will handle every detail to ensure your day runs seamlessly and is one to be remembered.
SPAIN, ITALY, PORTUGAL, FRANCE, MALTA, ISRAEL... ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD! /optimumweddingscompany @optimum_weddings /optimumweddings
dyana@optimumweddings.com
· www.optimumweddings.com
CONFETI 29
Trend Alert!
Fabulous
FEATHERS D
elicate, soft and fluttering, feathers represent sheer femininity, so it’s no wonder that bridal designers have been combining feathers and gowns for years. This is a trend that seems to crop up even in accessories such as shoes, capes and clutch bags. Ranging from subtle hints to daring full shirts, feathers are a major bridal trend
30 CONFETI
that CONFETI just adores! The added movement and grace when you walk down the aisle is sure to make you feel like something from Swan Lake and – dare we say it? - even ruffle some feathers among your guests. A stylish twist on tradition without looking too outrageous, we can’t get enough of all this totally glam plumage. Take a look at some of our favourite fabulous feather wedding dresses!
Berta.com
Berta.com
angelsanchezusa.com
livne-white.com
isabelzapardiez.com
cymbeline.com kellyfaetanini.com
eliesaab.com moniquelhuillier.com
CONFETI 31
THE ART OF
Glamour CONFETI first came across Dovita Bridal at the London Bridal Show and Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week earlier this year. We were blown away by this company’s unique creations. Dovita Bridal is a new leader in bridal fashion, with the emphasis on superb fit and couture finishing. Attention to detail sets their gowns apart from many other designers. Each gown is painstakingly created by experienced designer Antonio Castagna who travels the world looking for the inspiration that will give brides the dress of their dreams. With innovative options such as a choice between lace-up or a zip-up back, a bride can customise her gown to reflect her personal aisle style. The signature of a Dovita bridal gown is definitely in the luxurious fabrics and exquisite beading. Swarkovski crystals and diamanté detailing offer a magical sparkle to each dress. Dovita’s range offers a diverse selection of styles from glamorous draped angel satin to alluring laces and satin chiffon. With dresses available worldwide, including right here in Spain, you can find everything you need to know on www.dovitabridal.com. We hope you enjoy browsing this incredibly glamorous collection.
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www.dovitabridal.com
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CONFETI 39
A Royal Affair
C
onfeti LOVES a high profile celebrity wedding, and this May marked one of the most anticipated weddings of the year. Pippa Middleton (sister to the Duchess of Cambridge) and her now husband, hedge fund manager James Mathews tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in England. Complete with a royal guest list, Spitfire show and elaborate glass marquee, we imagine it was a fun-filled experience for all who attended.
Sadly the CONFETI team’s invite was lost in the post, but fear not – in case you have been living under
40 CONFETI
a rock for the past few months, here is everything you need to know about Pippa and James’s big day. Let’s start with the bridal dress and accessories, the most important factor of course! Pippa looked breathtaking in a bespoke Giles Deacon dress, modest, flattering and with on trend floral lace. She had a lot to live up to after her sister’s iconic Alexander McQueen gown, one of the most copied dresses of all time. However, we feel sure the high neck and beautiful heart-shaped cut-out detailing to the back will become hugely popular among
future brides. She teamed it with a pair of ivory satin stilettos by Manolo Blahnik, tiara from Robinson Pelham, small droplet earrings, veil and an elegant ‘up’ hairdo. So who attended? A rumoured 150 guest were at the church with another 150 joining for the reception. Guests included the Duke of Cambridge, Princess Eugenie and Prince Harry, the groom’s brother Spencer Matthews (star of Made in Chelsea), was best man and welcomed attendees, accompanied by Pippa’s brother, James Middleton. James’s partner, Donna Air also attended and other celebrities included tennis ace Roger Federer and wife Mirka, but the guests who really stole the show were the adorable page boys and flower girls. There were eight in total, including Pippa’s niece and nephew Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Quite a few made the headlines for their cheeky antics, which necessitated them being shushed while entering the church. The couple chose to hold their ceremony in St Mark’s Church in Englefield followed by a reception at Pippa’s family’s Berkshire estate, where a magnificent glass marquee that took three days to assemble was placed. There was a strict ‘no phone’ rule and the seating plan was arranged so that couples didn’t sit next to each other. Models and actors were reportedly hired as waiting staff and the couple were escorted to their lavish venue in a green open top E-type Jaguar. A wide variety of British and Scottish food was served, including the finest champagne, caviar and a four-tier fruit cake. The final touches were added with stunning white and blush roses, a Spitfire show at sunset and projected images of the couple’s adventures were seen on the back of the Middleton’s mansion. Guest were rumoured to have partied until 4am. What a day it must have been we’re swooning at the thought! However, whether your wedding day is as big as Pippa’s or a more intimate affair, getting married to your loved one is enough to make any one feel like a princess - who needs a Spitfire show anyway?! Until the next celebrity wedding! CONFETI 41
your Share ent m e g enga h us! it w y r sto e details th ll a Mail us otos to: and ph s@ ie enquir ing.es h s li b u p icon
te!
Upda ent ngagem
E
Photo by Nani de Perez
Sinead & Joshua Ellie &Jack
Overall, final preparations seem to be going well. It’s a weird feeling you spend so long planning it and now it’s so close my head is all over the place! My dress and the bridesmaids’ dresses have finally gone in for their alterations and should be ready to pick up soon. Jack and I are going shopping this week because we’ve still got quite a bit to buy such as rings, a travel case for my dress, wedding gifts, wedding day perfume and jewellery - the list goes on and on and we are NOT leaving town until we have everything. I did recently buy my shoes though. I’m in love with them and can’t wait for them to arrive; they’re Betsey Johnson flats and are so cute. I’ve just had a surprise hen party here in the UK, organised by my sister. It was amazing; she booked a small venue in the countryside and we had cocktails and lunch and games with my friends and family. It really was the most beautiful day. Table plans and menus have recently been sorted and I’m also finalising décor bits and pieces. I’m spending quite a bit of time on Pinterest at the moment looking at different hair styles as I don’t know what to have and I’m unsure as to whether I’m wearing a veil or not. We are all getting so excited now we can’t believe how quickly it’s coming round. I’ll be checking in the guests and myself for the flights this week. It’s all becoming so real!
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With less than a month to go until the big day, we are extremely excited for our wedding day to arrive! We have been engaged now for almost two years and can’t believe how quickly it’s come around. Things have been a little more stressful as the day is fast approaching; finalising seating plans, chasing RSVPs and menus isn’t an easy task! As we are getting married in a Catholic church here in Spain, we are required to attend a week long wedding course. This was given in Spanish, but I was able to understand most of it, with a little translation help from Josh! It was actually very pleasant and lighthearted. We covered the values and traditions of marriage as well as requirements needed and ceremony details. Something that took us by surprise and dropped a spanner in the works (as neither of us have been married before) is that we actually need a lot of documents to be able to marry in the church. Needless to say this caused several stressful days and an emergency flight back to England. A word of advice to future UK brides wanting to get married here - check exactly what papers your church requires well in advance. It seems like common sense, but with so many other details to be planned, it is easily forgotten. On a happier note, our brilliant wedding photographer Nani de Perez asked us if we would like to participate in a quick test style photoshoot on the beach so she could try out a new lens. We were thrilled and the images were wonderful! Nani is so professional and artistic, it made us so glad that we have chosen her to
Photo by Nani de Perez
capture our special day. We also love that she was happy for our dog, Honey to be involved, as we want be able to have photos of all three of us on the wedding day, so this was lovely. We have now both had our stag and hen do’s which were brilliant fun and we have also booked to have a little party in the UK after the wedding, so we can celebrate with some of our friends and family that can’t make the wedding day abroad. I’ve ordered some lovely items from a bespoke wedding designs store called The Pink Giraffe’s. They sell wonderful wedding products so you must check their website : www.thepinkgiraffes.co.uk. I’m also waiting for my personalised confetti cones from Shropshire Petals to arrive. I can’t wait to see the finished product, they are totally bespoke designs and biodegradable. For brides wondering how to get your wedding dress over to Spain, there are several options. My dress wouldn’t fit in a suitcase, but I would also have been scared that the case could go missing or be damaged. There are ways to send via courier, or even pack into a travel box (if it will fit) but if,
like me, you’d rather be safe than sorry, after doing some research, I learned that on several airlines you can actually pay for your wedding dress to have a seat on the plane! So this is what I did. You can book it over the phone and is quite straightforward. Needless to say I got some funny looks at airport and even the staff on the plane were surprised, but it is a great option to keep your dress with you at all times safely. My dress even had its own boarding pass! We have booked our honeymoon for January 2018, We will be staying in the incredible five-star Anantara Veli in the Maldives. We cannot wait and have a bungalow over the sea! The Anantara hotels in the Maldives are simply stunning and the most sought after for honeymoons and weddings. Now all that’s left to do is go over everything with all our suppliers and finalise all the finishing touches. This will be my last planning update before I become Mrs. Cameron! It seems only yesterday that Joshua popped the question. I hope our own experiences of planning a wedding out here have helped some future couples. We are incredibly excited for our Big Day to arrive!
www.tucco.es | info@tucco.es | +34 680 164 747
Irie J Smooth Soul Singer
PERSONALISE YOUR WEDDING WITH OUR ILLUMINATED WORDS & LETTERS
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NEWLY ENGAGED
Where to Start?
The moment you have been waiting for, for what feels like your whole life‌you got engaged!
F
irstly Congratulations! Enjoy that cloud nine feeling for as long as possible, there is nothing quite like it! The planning process is about to get so real, but where do you start?! It can be a little overwhelming, but have no fear. Confeti reveals the the key things that are important to get sorted first, sooner rather than later! Hopefully making things run a little smoother and keeping those bridezillas at Bay!
Decide When
Try to get an idea of when you would like to get hitched. Whether its in 6 months time or 2 years, take into consideration any other large family events that may be taking place and your own current situation. Do you want a warm open air summer wedding? Or a cosy log fire Winter special? Choose a season and year, now you have a timeframe to start working with.
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Insure your Bling It may not be the top of your list after all the excitement, but its important to get your new sparkly ring insured before you start flashing it around! You can call your home insurers to add it to your policy.
Create a Mood Board Deciding on the vibe and style you want for your wedding day first will then help you out with all the other aspects. Whether its a fairytale extravaganza or intimate beach ceremony, decide what suits you both as a couple. Try to be true to who you are. Set up
a Pinterest account (if you don’t already have a secret wedding board for the last 5 years) get some bridal mags, such as Confeti, and start gathering your wedding theme ideas.
Budget and Numbers Although its tricky to imagine
an exact budget and number of guests, discuss with your partner what budget you think would be manageable, and roughly how many guests you would like to invite. These aspects go hand in hand as in most cases, the more the guests the more the budget need to will be and vice versa! Now is also the time to start saving!
V isit Venues So now you have a rough idea of
budget, numbers, stye and time of year? Then its time to start researching venues. It can take a while to find the ‘One’ so its something you want to try to get cemented sooner rather than later. Take a look at some of the best venues in Spain in our directory!
Start your dress Search Yes it seems very soon, but the
selection of wedding dress is ever expanding, making it impossible for most brides to know exactly what they are after. You may think you’ve found the one online and then discover it isn’t available in this country, or that after trying it, it looks totally different to how you’d imagined. Start looking into designers, find out when the trunk shows are and where your favourite dresses are available to try. Castillo de Monda
Photo by The Love Hunters
Supplier Research Some suppliers, particularly
photographers and entertainment can get booked up over a year in advance, so its worth thinking about suppliers early on. Do some research and try to secure a couple of aspects that are important must haves on your day. Here at confeti we are always happy to recommend established trustworthy wedding vendors.
Photo by Thoroughly Gorgeous Cake by Sweet things by Fi
Villa del Mar Photo by Thoroughly Gorgeous
Save the Dates
As soon as you’ve booked your Venue, its time to get some Save the Dates out! This is so important to secure that your loved ones don’t have other arrangements, especially if you are getting married abroad. The more notice you can give your family and friends, the better! CONFETI 45
ONFECTOINFECTOI CONFECTOINFECO T I NFECTI AUTUMN 2012
The Rise of the
Wedding Planner EXCLUSIVE
Interview with Award Winning Designer
Ian Stuart
Cream of the Crop Spain’s Leading Wedding
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and then he asked me to marry him - my response was a mixture of laughter and tears, and of course, I said ‘Yes!’.
Real Weddings
Bhavesh and Rajvi enjoyed a magical
MEANT TO BE…
We were young, crazy and care free at 17 years old. We knew of each other through friends and in the few times we would bump into each other I would sometimes get a wink and a smile and he would get a little wave back. Who would have known that 17 years later, I would be married to him! Bhavesh and I met again after some years at a fitness centre and we recognised each other straight away. We started to meet up as friends and realised that we shared the same interests however our friendship drifted slowly
Jake and Laufey
when Jake Our love story began in a queue struck up a conversation Sadly for the cashpoint in London! had as he the timing was terrible, ‘Boys just booked a three-month HowOnly’ trip to South America. complete with ever we kept in touch, bills until Jake astronomical phone (much to send me a plane ticket friends on the the annoyance of his America trip,) and suddenly South holiday became our own romantic
celebrated
fun, family and friendship.
went to Cuba and that was where Bhavesh proposed to me. We were on a tiny island off the south coast of Cuba and on our last night on the island (we were due to fly to Varadero the next day to continue our holiday), Bhavesh had booked us a table at a restaurant. When we arrived, I was surprised to see that he had arranged for us to dine in a private cabana that was beautifully decorated with candles, flowers and white curtains that were softly blowing in the breeze. During our meal, we were serenaded with beautiful Spanish love songs. At this point he told me that he did this for me
Real Wedd
Two years later, we had been well acquainted with each other’s family and friends and we had been on a few holidays together and we were definitely ready to take the next step in our relationship. It was just a case of him popping the question. Last September we
Address Book
At the Water’s Edge at the eternally their timeless nuptials
three day celebration filled with
apart and we became quite busy in our own lives but we would call each other now and again over the years just to catch up until one day we decided to meet, enjoying each others company so greatly we began to spend more and more time together before falling completely and utterly in love.
ings
Wedding Dress: Caroline Castigliano
Bridesmaid Dresses:
Reiss
Suit: Reiss Venue: Villa del Mar, Marbella Club Hotel
stylish Villa del Mar.
Photographer: beckysharpe.co.uk
the rest of our and the beginning of in a restaurant lives. Jake proposed a few months in Paris in 2010 then twins hence later I fell pregnant with put on hold our wedding plans got for a little while.
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because he loved me and he just wanted to say thank you for being such an amazing girlfriend and so I still had no clue what he was about to do. It was after dinner when Bhavesh suggested that we go for a walk on the beach. As we walked towards the sea, I was holding on to him and walking with precaution as it was dark with only the moonlight to guide us, and the deck that led to the rocks above the shore had large enough gaps for my stilettos to become wedged in! When we arrived at the beach, the moonlight hit the waves that were rolling onto the sand - we just stood there in awe of the scenery. We held each other tight and reminisced about the amazing times we had been through together over all the years we had known each other. He then suddenly said, ‘Can you see that?’ I turned around to see what he was pointing at, and as I looked down, a light shone on to the rocks where there was a sign that read, ‘Marry Me?’. I then turned back around to see that Bhavesh had got down on one knee! He told me that he wanted to spend the rest of his life and more with me
was sun, My vision for our wedding I really sea, flowers and glamour. outside, either wanted to get married suron a beach or somewhere in the blooms rounded by beautiful
idea of Initially I had a very different thought years earlier I sunshine. About three how I wanted my wedding, were relaxed Jake and I (newly engaged) I wanted more of a hippy beach as soon as I walking down the Marbella drink at feel to everything but go for a changed. front and decided to saw the venue everything restaurant. perfect but The Marbella Club beach The entire wedding was through the most sentiWe then had a little walk I would have to say the knew the speeches hotel grounds and I instantly of mental moments were that I had found the destination villa, and, of course, the ceremony. private and friends my dreams. The hotel’s Seeing all of our family and holds all that they had Villa del Mar is beautiful together and knowing 1950’s. I could the world of its charm from the all flown in from across parties that they all visualise all the glamorous was amazing. The fact in the past and as much as we that took place there enjoyed themselves my wedding; on the cake. that’s how I visualised did was truly the icing timeless. classic, glamorous and
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Would you like
We went back to our table where we finished off our champagne, when Bhavesh told me he had another surprise for me! What could possibly be better than this? I thought he may have booked us in for a spa day or he would take me shopping… No. He had booked us both in for a skydive! Fancy being proposed to and then kicked out of a helicopter at 12000 ft... romantic at first, daringly devilish to end.
ALL I EVER WANTED AND MORE…
The wedding planning begun almost immediately after we had returned back to the UK. I had always dreamt of an outdoors wedding, with beautiful scenery and romance. I already knew that this would be the theme throughout. We decided to marry in Spain as we both travelled there often. Spain has always been a destination close to home and close to my heart... the ambience, the people, the laidback attitude, the weather and climate.... we had to get married in Spain!
True Blue
morning, the blessing ceremony in the afternoon followed by cocktails and the reception party into the night. All were outdoors, the weather was amazing and all this infused with the surroundings and the ‘buzz’ our guests came with made it truly the best wedding, I myself, had ever been to, and I still can’t believe that it was my own. I knew I wanted a traditional Hindu wedding with a twist of vintage and regal attire. Dianna from Party People and the team at Beau Rivaaaj ensured that the setting was just that and the planning was impeccable. The mandap was decorated with beautiful fabrics and hanging ornaments. It looked exquisite with traditional but subtle colours. The large pillars surrounding the amphitheatre were draped with beautiful images of Lord Ganesh. For the blessing ceremony, Dianna had stripped away the colours and left a beautiful plain white chuppah that was complemented by the surroundings of the Roman Stone amphitheatre. The ivory and soft pink flowers paired with our outfits made a perfect combination against the sunlight and the greenery.
I wanted a wedding with a difAfter the sounds of the Spanference and I loved the idea of ish guitar and a few champagne davidtoms-weddings.com our closest friends and family all cocktails later, guests were coming to celebrate our wedding ushered to the reception on the davidtoms-weddings.com abroad and also enjoying a holioutdoor terrace surrounded by day at the same time. We decided olive trees with suspended Chito have a three day event, with the nese lanterns and wicker hearts. Michael and Melan first being the Surprises for our guests, and our night. The two day mendhi ie marri celeb second day ed in a elega was a selves, leisure ration were ‘wow’ factors starting day at family, friend surrounde nt the Crowne Plaza s with flamenco dancing, speeches Estepona d by their and son, with Dexter. golf and spa in the morning, and performances from our loved a pool party in the afternoon and ones to large glow sticks on our a dinner in the evening and the entrance, a live bongo player over last day wasOUR our big a UK DJ spinning the best beats dayY… STOR - with the Vedic Hindu Micha ceremony and then a firework finale. el and I in the met throug ing and h workliving in Marbe the Real Estate secto lla, in years ago. r about 8 CONFETI 61 property I was working for developer a for a renow and Micha el company. ned Real Estate He was professiona charming, polite and l, kind way about him, had a very of misch with a hint ief After a few in those blue eyes. each other, years of not seeing each other we bumped into again and meet up decided for coffee to tea, and or hence forth in my case good friend became s. We were ing for differe worknt comp then and anies by we chat, laugh would meet up to woes over , tell each other our a ner. Micha bit of lunch or dinel board and was my sound ing confid ante. enjoyed each others We really everything company, plicated. was easy and uncom OUR VISIO One day shortly after one of my Spain holdsN… birthdays, my age and the in our hearts a very special (not telling of cours wedd as we have place e) we met normal and all the ladies ing date, given lived here up both to for many turned out kissed’ and things changed, as real treat our son to be ‘we Dexter was years and and also was born. Michael and Melan proved to a an excell Costa del born in the ent be ie Sol Hospi friends and memento for our sion was tal. Our vito share family. Michael our and this proposed special time wedding 2 month later, on OUR MOST with our s the last loved ones. in our lives TREASURE day of an amazing MOM we We knew wanted to D ENTS cruise holida get everyo beautiful It is hard … together ne all ring. It was y, with a to select and for our ful surpri just one moment a and wond neare deare se erst from our st to be wedding even start and before we could as each a initiation day and every planning into marrie part of our I was pregn perfect. the wedd minute was addition, d life and However ing, for some ant. when the churc , who had in yet had the h and Julie- I entered not soprano our darlin pleasure, to meet singer beganAnn our g son. Ave Maria singing my heart also dedic melted. We chose She ated Villa Tiberi ing the recep a song to us location o as our duras tion dinne created such wond it is decorated with a very speci r, which for Micha fountains. erful gardens and al memo el ry A simple the funnie and myself. I think scheme colour of st mome nt when my pale blue just off-white and mother was had to be was select Flamenco perfectly complemened, which dance and doing her cided he simple and Dexter deted our could elegant grandmothe n´t be withou adorned vision. We t his the main r, ‘Abu’ for moment table with crystals even one so and blue her on the he decided to join place cards chose invitations, dance floor! and a stunn all, having seating Above ing plan in the everyone cherish The pale same hues. we love together and blue Spani for two whole days ultima embellished sh fans, with our ding everyt tely made our wednames ever wishe hing we could have d for and more.
your wedding
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Real Weddings
Love at La Cala You'll want to copy every detail of Sarah and Michael's dazzling celebration at La Cala de Mijas
RIDING HIGH We grew up together in the same area, however it was my brother's 21st birthday that brought us closer together. We planned his surprise party and, as the night went on, sparks began to fly and, as they say, the rest is history. The proposal was incredible; Michael took me to Brussels to visit the Christmas markets and he asked me to marry him while riding on the Ferris wheel. It was a very romantic setting A HOME FROM HOME Michael's family have a holiday home in La Cala de Mijas and I completely fell in love with the place. It is beautiful, quaint and largely unspoiled by tourism.
It was never an option to get married at home in Ireland because our hearts were set on Spain.
Having visited many different venues we stumbled upon the La Cala resort. Walking around it we both had that feeling of excitement: the location, the views and a beautiful hotel for guests to stay in - overall it just felt perfect. We were both quite hands-on
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with the planning and spent a lot of time researching wedding vendors. We found reviews from social media platforms and, of course, Confeti magazine were very helpful. SPANISH FLAVOUR I chose a Spanish designer, Rosa Clara, for my wedding dress. I fell in love with the lace, the fit, and the illusion back on my gown, I loved that the colour wasn't full on white, more of a nude shade, with white lace which I felt complimented my skin tone. I never thought I would wear a veil, however the minute I put it on with my beautiful Rosa Clara dress it made me feel like a bride and in that moment I knew the dress was complete. I wore a bespoke headpiece in my hair which complimented the design of the dress and picked out the flower and leaf detail. My four bridesmaids were stunning: I had asked my two sisters and two of my closest friends. We chose a beautiful, full length Mark Lesley backless dress in a light mint green with sparkling embellishment on the front. The groom and groomsmen wore Mark Darcy suits in cobalt blue which were paired with grey pin
stripe waistcoats. Michael wore a custom made bow tie which his son, our pageboy Jamie, also wore to match his dad. LET’S MAKE-UP As I am a beauty therapist, I always knew that the makeup situation was going to be a challenge! I had thought that it would be almost impossible to find someone who could do it just the way I wanted it. I have a huge interest in make-up but also knew that I wanted to feel pampered and relaxed on the day of my wedding and I really wanted to hand over the control to someone who truly understood what I was looking for. After an unsuccessful trial 11 months previous to my wedding, I finally came
across Nicola McGeorge. She put me at ease and completely understood where I was coming from, no question was too big or small for her, she was outstanding. I felt
an instant relief - and yet had not even met her! She even assisted with questions that were not even make-up related. Upon meeting Nicola she was so professional and understood immediately what I was trying to
achieve. We spoke about what I liked and disliked and she asked for me to have photos ready of bridal make-up I liked and also my dress, she took every aspect into consideration. We had a common interest in make-up and it wasn't long before we were dissecting and sharing our favourite products. The look I went for was a modern bridal look with emphasis on the eyes and fresh skin. I was so lucky to have found her and her calmness kept me feeling confident that I would be happy and look my best on my wedding day . Maite from Glamorous Hair Marbella looked after my hair. She was amazing and is such a lovely person - friendly, chatty and unbelievably talented at what she does. My idea for my hair was soft and romantic, so not too structured and Maite completely nailed it. The bridesmaids had various versions of a beautiful plaited up do with a soft, relaxed feel. They all loved their hair and even tried to persuade Maite to move to Ireland!
Our cake was made by Alyson Thomas. We decided to go with one single top tier and a tower of various different flavoured cupcakes. The design and detail that Alyson put into the cakes was incredible. She PASTEL PERFECT We didn't have a specific theme when we started out. However, as time went on it naturally evolved from my love of pastel colours. I adored the simplicity of the colour scheme and, when it all came together, I loved the way the light pinks and greens complimented each other.
took pastel colours into account and created a beautiful light pink and cream design. You know the cake is good when you see your guests smuggling cupcakes out in their handbags at 5am for the journey home!
SISTER ACT The ceremony was beautiful. The Mijas church is a very picturesque church with its gold decorated altar and marble floors. We wanted our ceremony to feel personal so we chose all the readings and prayers, involving family and friends. My
rest of the ceremony we asked the very talented Lucy Faye to sing some of our favourite songs. I walked up the aisle to 'A Thousand Years' by Christina Perri and we walked back down the aisle as husband and wife to 'Songbird' by Eva Cassidy. Lucy also stayed to entertain our guests for a while outside the church while we all mingled and everyone adored her beautiful voice. Lucy was a pleasure to deal with and I would highly recommend her. LET’S DANCE Ian Preston looked after the entertainment side and was
sister sang like an angel for us and I couldn’t have been more proud. For the
The flowers were beautiful pastels: pink and cream roses and baby's breath. We asked Michelle from Gorgeous Event Decoration to place some lanterns around the venue as the sun went down to create a romantic ambience. We also put up a wishing tree for guests to signed and send their wishes for us as we started our married life together. CONFETI 49
ADDRESS BOOK Wedding Planner: Kate @ fresh-tours.com Dress: Rosa Clara rosaclara.es Groom’s Suit: Mark Darcy, marcdarcy.co.uk Make-up: Nicola McGeorge Hair: Maite, Glamorous Hair Marbella glamorous-hair-marbella.com Music In Church: Lucy Faye Balloons and Love Letter Hire balloonmanspain.com Cake: Alyson Cakes weddingcakesmarbella.com Decor: Michelle, Gorgeous Event Decoration Entertainment: Ian Preston ianprestonentertainment.com Violin: Quike Navarro, houseviolin.com Venue: La Cala Resort Hotel, Golf and Spa, lacala.com
everything we could have asked for and more. I remember looking up halfway through our meal and seeing all our guests with a fork in one hand eating their meal and the other hand up dancing and singing along to whatever Ian was singing. I knew at that point it was going to be an amazing night. We held our first dance and cake cutting out under the canopy in La Cala resort. During the cutting of the cake Ian began to sing 'That's Amore' and all the guests joined in, which was such a lovely moment . As an added surprise we also had Quike Navarro, the electric violinist, playing during the evening. The only way to describe him was like the pied piper; everyone was in awe of him and the atmosphere was electric. I can honestly say that between Quike and Ian, our guests did not leave the dance floor. OUR FAVOURITE MOMENTS... The key moments that stand out would be getting ready with my 50 CONFETI
bridesmaids and my parents, particularly the moment my dad walked in and saw me for the first time in my wedding dress. His reaction was priceless. It was very emotional and all he could get out was, "Oh, wow!" I don't think there was a dry eye in the room, including the hair and make-up girls.
Arriving at the church in our beautiful vintage car and seeing the tourists taking photos and clapping was a very surreal. Exchanging our vows
was such a personal moment and, even though the church was full of our closest family and friends, it felt like just the two of us up there in that moment. Michael says his favourite moments were turning around and seeing me in the church for the first time. Also walking (well, more like dancing!) into our venue and being introduced by Ian Preston as the new Mr and Mrs Ryan and feeling on top of the world.
Floral decoration for unforgettable weddings
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Real Weddings
A Fairytale Romance Daniella and Alex enjoyed a lavish weekend wedding surrounded by family and friends at the ever so stylish La Cabane
CHILDHOOD SWEETHEARTS Alex and I actually met at school. He sat behind me in English and finally had the courage to tap me on the back and ask to borrow a pencil. That summer we were both in Marbella and it was there on the beach that Alex asked me to be his girlfriend. That was nine years ago. At the age of 22 Alex took me to Paris for Valentine’s weekend. We had a VIP tour around Paris and, when the limo finally stopped outside the Eiffel Tower, Alex got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. CELEBRATE IN STYLE We decided to get married in Spain because it was where we started our relationship, so it is very close to our hearts. We have both grown up spending our
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summers in Marbella; Alex has a second home there and I also have family who live there. We wanted to have a whole week of celebrations instead of having a wedding in central London which would be over in a matter of hours. We chose La Cabane at Hotel Los Monteros as our venue because of its breathtaking views of the ocean. We wanted to have our chuppa and ceremony overlooking the sea and be able to hear the waves, which is exactly what we had and it was perfect. ALL DRESSED UP I am a ‘girly’ girl and my dress sense is extremely feminine. My wedding dress had a sweetheart
neckline and was fitted until it hit my hips. At this point it flared out with lots of layers of tulle and the slight peach ombré effect at the bottom really gave it the ‘wow’ factor. I paired this with glittery, strappy Iimmy Choo sandals. My bridesmaids wore floaty, blush dresses, with my sister’s being slightly different and less classical as she was the maid of honour. Alex’s style is smart and immaculate, so he wore a fitted blue suit with an ivory tie and the ushers wore the same suit but with pink ties. I went for a more natural look for my hair and make-up. My hair is naturally big and curly and it was curled over my natural hair to give it the beachy look that I wanted, with a bit of height at the back and
finished off with a gold headband to complete the bridal look. My make-up artist, Nicola used lots of golds and peachy tones to match the theme of my dress, kept the skin clean and glowing, finishing off the look with some false eyelashes. COULD IT BE MAGIC? The theme of the wedding visually was a modern day Midsummer Night’s Dream. This consisted of light pastel pink, peach and ivory flowers everywhere with Swarovski crystals hanging and fairy lights on every palm tree. The overall effect was simply magical. We had a traditional Jewish ceremony with our lovely orthodox rabbi which was very spiritual and emotional. I was blessed to have my sister sing me down the aisle to Fiddler on the Roof’s ‘Sunrise, Sunset’ which was very important to me and there was not one dry eye in the house. We had a big reception with food constantly on the go, plus a sushi stand with a traditional sushi chef making fresh sushi rolls and an Italian station with an Italian chef making fresh pizzas and pastas. Our sit down dinner was a refreshing Fruit Salad to start, Sea Bass for the main course and three mini desserts. We opted for a fresh, light dinner as we wanted people to dance all night long.
MUSIC TO MY EARS I come from a very musical family with my nana growing up on stage and being in the West End. My sister and I are recording artists and singer/songwriters so we had to make it a day to remember and music was always going to be a big part of it. This started off with me asking my sister to sing me down the aisle, which she did and it was one of the most memorable parts of the wedding. For Alex’s and my first entrance into the wedding dinner as husband and wife, I sang ‘If I Ain’t Got You’ by Alicia Keys to him and serenaded him into his seat. The biggest surprise of the night was when Alex did his speech and ended it by singing to me ‘When You Say Nothing At All’ by Ronan Keating.
Everyone was in shock when he did this and. to my surprise, he had been having a year’s worth of singing lessons with my sister just to prepare that one song for me and to turn the tables for once. We had Club Live, a band from London which was fantastic from start to finish. We chose them because they were different from the normal function band, as they felt more current and had an edge to them. There were two parts to the music set. We had a white baby grand piano outside where the band performed a set with all the singers while people were eating. It was also where Alex and I had our first dance and where I danced with my dad. The second part to the music set was inside where the party took place. We CONFETI 53
transformed the inside of La Cabane from a beach club into a nightclub. Our band and DJ were in their element and kept everyone dancing until 5am. ALL SNAPPED UP Our photographer Talia Giraudo and videographer Sam Reynard were so easy to have around and were a delight to deal with. We had drones everywhere so we could have a bird’s eye view for the video to make it extra special. MY FAVOURITE MOMENTS WERE‌. Seeing Alex for the first time at the Bedeken. We were all crying, including our parents, as Alex put the veil over my face and our parents blessed us both. I also loved having both my parents walk me down the aisle. The ceremony was extremely spiritual and memorable and the singing all night really took our wedding to another level.
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ADDRESS BOOK Photographer: Talia @ thoroughlygorgeous.com Hairdresser: Jemma Harris Make-up Artist: Nicola McGeorge Entertainment: Club Live club-live.co.uk Flowers: Virginia Florist virginiaflorista.com Videographer: Sam Reynard Venue: La Cabane Beach Club, Hotel Los Monteros
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Dr. Kai O. Kaye - Plastic, Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgeon • Full Member of the Spanish Society of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery SEGPRE • Fellow of the European Board of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery EBOPRAS • Full Member of the German Board of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery DGPRÄC • Member of the Colegio de Medicos de Malaga (No.29/2909452)
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AWARDS
2010 & 2011
Av. Ramon y Cajal, 7 - 29600 Marbella 0034 951 775 518 - Mob : 670 770 455 info@oceanclinic.net - www. oceanclinic.net CONFETI 55
Real Weddings
Bound Together
FOREVER
Maria and Mark enjoyed a week of celebrations before taking their vows at a beautiful Spanish country cortijo in Nerja
PUT A RING ON IT Mark proposed to me at the Eiffel Tower on a holiday in Paris. I almost ruined the moment by cracking a joke about him proposing and pretended to check his pockets for a ring as we approached the chosen spot as I had no idea of his real intentions. Mark had the ring made from a picture I had taken of a ring I fell in love with while on holiday. After getting engaged we decided we wanted to marry abroad but were not quite sure where. We wanted a sunny destination as you can’t be guaranteed sunshine in Ireland, plus we wanted the celebrations to last all week and our family and friends to be able to make a holiday of it. SURPRISE, SURPRISE After a lot of research we fell in love with Nerja and planned our first visit for August 2016. We
chose Sunshine Weddings Spain as our planners because as they were very friendly and couldn’t be more helpful. We really didn’t have to do much at all, as they organised everything for us. I highly recommend them as they really went above and beyond to make our day special.
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On our first trip to Nerja our planners picked us up from the villa in which we were staying and took us to view a selection of venues. We had our hearts set on a particular venue until we visited the surprise location. As
soon as we arrived at Cortijo Maria Luisia we knew that this was the one. The villa is very private,
which was exactly what we wanted, surrounded by mountains and beautiful sea views. It has amazing gardens, a swimming pool and even swings for the children. We wanted our ceremony and reception to take place in the same place and this was just perfect for our outdoor wedding. ALL THINGS PRETTY My wedding gown was designed by Justin Alexander and had a vintage appeal with a modern edge. I wanted to keep the colour palette neutral so chose blush toned bridesmaids’ dresses from Debenhams. I like my make-up to look very natural and my make-up artist, Lucy Pardoe did a wonderful job. She is a lovely girl and very professional. She made me feel at ease from the trial to the wedding day. We had minimal décor as the Cortijo was already very beautiful and rustic. The bouquets had a country chic feel to them which complemented the venue. We added flowers, fairy lights and candles on the tables. When the sun went down the venue looked even more magical than we imagined with the romantic lighting.
Bruschetta and drinks while we had our photos taken. HELP YOURSELF
To keep everything feeling laid back and relaxed we had a barbecue for our main meal which meant everyone could go up and choose their own meat and fish. The
food was to die for; dessert was our heartshaped caked topped with strawberries. We handed out personalised fans as favours and the little ones were entertained by a babysitter who was absolutely amazing with the kids. It also meant that all the parents could relax and not worry about the children going near the pool as they were being constantly watched and looked after. Our first dance was to Ed Sheeran’s ‘Thinking Out Loud’ and we had put together some choreography for a romantic dance which was captured from above by the drone, then DJ Tristan played until the early hours, making sure the dance floor was never empty. MY FAVOURITE MOMENTS I loved not only having our guests at our wedding but spending the whole week with them, which was really special and made it the best holiday ever. Mark’s favourite moment was seeing me walk up the aisle. We both
BOUND TOGETHER FOREVER loved that the best man It was important to us to keep played Mr. & Mrs. during our guests cool and comfortable the speeches, which was so homemade lemonade was a nice surprise and a fun offered on arrival for them to element of the day. enjoy before the ceremony. It helped to ease everyone into the country vibe we were going for. The ceremony was performed by Wedding Planner: Sunshine Weddings Spain Minister Gareth sunshineweddingsspain.com Morcombe and we included handDress: Justin Alexander justinalexander.com fasting which symbolizes the Photographer: Gary Tapp binding together of two people. Poems Cake: Susan Archer were read by the children and then everyone enjoyed a Entertainment: DJ Tristan @ selection of canapés weddingdjmarbella.co.uk such as Chicken Skewers, Mini Beer Venue: Cortijo Maria Luisia Prawns, Chorizo
ADDRESS BOOK
CONFETI 57
Real Weddings
A Multicultural Marriage Nicki and Harry were all about bringing a free-spirited design to their wedding, combining Indian, bohemian and traditional elements to create one unforgettable day.
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Harry and I eventually decided that it would be the perfect location for our big day.
HIPPY CHIC Ibiza is my second home, so it was not really surprising that Harry chose to propose in Hacienda Na Xamena, a beautiful hotel built into the side of a cliff on the north of the island. The sun was going down and I was having a bath - it was so romantic. Shortly after our engagement we decided to move to India together and that was two years ago. Since then we have also been blessed with a beautiful baby boy.
so excited because it has so much character, rustic charm and many magical hidden corners, which would allow our wedding to evolve as the day went on. It was the perfect spot.
We initially wanted to marry in Ibiza because we love the weather and Spanish culture. However, because my family and I have been coming to Marbella for 20 years,
ALL DRESSED UP I am a bit of a romantic hippy at heart but Harry is more traditional so we worked hard to mix both into the day. My wedding dress
After searching for many weeks we stumbled across El Molino Del Duque in Manilva. It made us
was layered with lace and glass beads and designed by Pronovias Atelier. My veil - also by Pronovias - was sheer, with lace detail and my shoes were from Jenny Packham. My bridesmaids’ dresses were from Guess and I just loved how Grecian they were, with sheer fabric and lace panels and the pink was so subtle and pretty. Harry had a linen sky blue suit made to measure from Oliver Brown in London, with Shipton & Heneage tan loafers. He loved the classic style of his look and it tied in perfectly with the blue of the venue. I had five flower girls in lace ivory dresses with gypsophila flower crowns and five page boys in white. I wanted my hair to look as though it had been naturally highlighted by the sun - you know, that beachy, sun kissed look. Hair colourist
extraordinaire, Jonathan Yeadon from Reflections, worked his magic on my mane and, boy, is that man talented! Not
only did I walk out of the salon with gorgeous blonde locks but I had a blast with him as well. I don’t think I stopped laughing the whole time I was in his chair. I normally wear my hair down but, with the heat in mind, I decided on a loose side braid for the big day. Hairstylist
Nicola McGeorge did our make-up; she is so professional and it was simply stunning - exactly what we wanted, in other words natural and glossy with pink and nude tones. Alex and Nicola really understood the look I was going for and they made it come to life so effortlessly. Laura Saunders looked after our nails, brows and lashes and her work is beyond excellent.
A WORK OF ART Pedro Nevarro designed our flowers in nudes and pale pinks. The peonies and roses were stunning and we loved the rose gold candelabras on each table with flowers trailing down. Pedro’s lighting work was sensational and we had fairy lights winding up the trees and surrounding the pool. It was so beautiful. Pedro’s flower arrangements for the ceremony were also stunning, with pretty pew ends and a stunning altar display. We live in India so wanted to link this in to our wedding. The ceremony had huge Indian umbrellas and coloured fans and the favours were Indian bangles for the ladies which we bought over from India. We designed
an Indian themed bar called Bombay Bar which served our favourite Indian cocktails in bright neon cocktail glasses. We
wanted our wedding to have a romantic bohemian theme running throughout with lanterns around the pool and twinkly lighting, and Pedro’s floral arrangements were so romantic and played such an important part in the overall look.
For the wedding breakfast we started with a range of canapés and a Jamón carver followed by Sea Bass on Wok Cooked Vegetables. We finished with a Profiterole Tower and a range of Cheeses. We put the playlist together ourselves, as we love music and it was so much fun to do. Our DJ Tristan did a great job taking control of this. We booked a Latino band called Latino Turner which was fantastic and during the meal three Spanish ‘tunos’ guitarists serenaded the tables, which the guests loved. CAUGHT ON CAMERA
Eloy Muñoz looked after the photography; I loved their energy and how they worked together as a couple. They were fantastic
on the day and made us feel so relaxed, capturing all of our precious moments. Romanza did a great job directing us for the video and injecting lots of fun to the day. HELP IS AT HAND From the first moment I emailed our wedding planner, Carla and received her reply I knew she was the planner for us. Tucco
Events is so efficient and full of inspiration for your big day, so I was filled with confidence from the start. OUR FAVOURITE MOMENTS… Our first dance was to Coldplay’s ‘Sky Full of Stars’. It was like being in a dream. All of our friends joined us and then we danced the night away until 4am - including my amazing granny!
ADDRESS BOOK Wedding Planner: Tucco Weddings & Unique Affairs tucco.es Dress: Pronovias Atelier Pronovias.com Shoes: Jenny Packham jennypackham.com Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Guess guess.com Groom’s Suit: Oliver Brown oliverbrown.org.uk Make-up: Nicola McGeorge Hair: Alex Horrock Beautician: Laura Ivory-Saunders Hair Colourist: Jonathan Yeadon @ Reflections www.reflectionsmarbella.com Flowers and Styling: Pedro Nevarro - pedronavarro.es Minister: Padre Peter Cake: Alejandro Catering Music: DJ Tristan weddingdjmarbella.co.uk Videographer: Romanza Venue: El Molino Del Duque elmolinodelduque.es Photographer: Eloy Muñoz eloymunoz.es
TWICE AS NICE We had a civil ceremony in Wandsworth town hall with family before we left which was very intimate and meant we got to enjoy two wedding days. We really
could not wait for our Spanish ceremony with Padre Peter, who is such a character. We enjoyed lovely readings from our friends and family and a friend played the ukulele, which was beautiful.
Alex Harrocks was so creative and did beautiful braid knots in the bridesmaids’ hair with small gypsophila flowers and my hair had a trailing fishtail plait to the right with small flowers. She was a joy to have doing our hair and we had so much fun too.
CONFETI 59
Welsh Cakes to Wedding Cake When Jessica and Laurence met it was far from eyes meeting romantically across a crowded room – in fact, the start of their relationship could scarcely have been less promising. Still, Cupid does have a very odd sense of humour and they soon realised that they were made for each other!
VIVE LA ‘DIFF! On a night out in Walkabout in Cardiff I was dancing with the girls when Laurence approached me, tapping me on the shoulder and opening with the worst pick up line I think I’ve ever heard: “Hi there! I noticed you were perving at me over there. How’s it going?” To which I replied, “Unlikely” and
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sauntered off. He then spent the next two hours keeping me highly entertained with awful anecdotes about the army and basically how much of a catch he was! At the end of the night I gave him a fake number, which he then (embarrassingly!) tested in front of me so, after giving him my actual number and dashing his hopes of anything further, we had a quick kiss and honestly I never expected to hear from him again.
But he messaged within the hour and again the next day, asking me out for lunch. One small problem – I couldn’t for the life of me remember what he looked like (thank you Jaegerbombs!) so had to stalk him on social media and Whatsapp before I said yes. The rest, as they say, is history. I knew from that first date he was the one I’d end up with. SPANISH TIES Spain has always been somewhere we have gone to escape and relax – we both love the culture, the food, the wine and the people. I have always
had a particularly strong tie to Spain since, as a child, I spent many a family holiday there and when I was at university I spent a year in Santa Pola learning the language and teaching English and had a fantastic experience that has stayed with me ever since. I have such good memories that it has always felt like a second home and I wanted to get married somewhere meaningful. Our focus was to have a family and friends
orientated ‘holiday wedding’ where everyone could come together to eat, drink and celebrate – much like the traditional Spanish weddings I have attended in the past and much in line with the values rooted in Spanish people. Finally we wanted GUARANTEED sunshine and fabulous scenery for our photos - it was a no-brainer really! THE RIGHT PLACE Again, going back to my experiences growing up, we were always a big family who opted for self-catering villas so that everyone could stay together. I had so much fun with my sisters in the villas’ gardens and pools that we very rarely needed anything else for entertainment and I think part of me wanted to recreate that. As a couple we had a very similar image in our heads of what we wanted our day to be. We decided to go for something that encapsulates our personalities (we are very sociable and love nothing more than to throw a big group party) so we thought that we would opt for an intimate garden party in the sun with lots of alcohol, amazing food, music and a holiday vibe. We didn’t want to go for the traditional set up because everyone knows that we’ve always done things a bit differently and we wanted everyone to have a
completely new and memorable experience. The inclusivity was important to us, hence the choice of a hacienda where lots of people could stay and enjoy their holiday around the wedding. We’ve always preferred the bare bones, natural beauty of things, something I often find is overlooked in weddings. Finally, I guess the fact the hacienda was presented as a family home, with naturally beautiful surroundings and we could essentially have dinner in a garden really did give it the laid back intimate feel we’d been going for. It was perfect. ACHIEVING THE LOOK Well, the wedding dress was nothing like I’d imagined, for a start! I’d originally thought I’d want something sparkly or lacy and fitted, but in the end I tried on my full skirt, spaghetti strap tulle dress and felt like a princess. It was the only dress that made me feel that way, so that’s how I knew it was the one. I think what I loved about it most was again the understated nature of it. Yes it was ‘poofy’, but it was elegant; there were no frills, no sparkle and it was just perfect in its own right – kind of like the general feel of the wedding. Bridesmaids; again I wanted to do something a bit different. I wanted all my girls to feel and look gorgeous but also be comfortable in that heat, so went for long, non-figure hugging Grecian-
style dresses. The colours were muted tones of deep colours that I knew would pick up nicely with the flowers, which I wanted to be more ‘Spanish/tropical/holiday’ than your traditional wedding pastel shades -and the calla lillies gave the bouquets a bit of intrigue.
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ADDRESS BOOK Venue: Hacienda San Jose, Mijas Wedding Planner: Sunshine Weddings sunshineweddingsspain.com Flowers: Bunches Florist Wedding Dress: Kenneth Winston Hair: Alex Harrocks Photographer: Talia Giraudo Music: Nano (Guitar). DJ Fuller
As far as the wedding setting itself went I wanted to focus on the surroundings and the setting of the villa and the whole time I tried to keep in mind that ‘less is more’ while still adding a few special touches. The table settings were beautifully understated, with the focus on nature: large water cylinders filled with bright flowers and candles which, when lit in the evening, just added to that ‘destination romantic’ feel. We opted for traditional Spanish ceramic tiles for our table numbers and we also had a ‘CASA THOMSON’ sign made up with these tiles for the top table, something that has made its way home with us and hangs over our front door. The altar arch with the bamboo frame, white drapes and palm leaves again emulates the destination theme, while still being romantic with that incredible backdrop, We actually kept the frame erect as a ‘photo booth’ for guests to stand under and take their own photos in front of that amazing view. Finally, the evening was decorated with sparkling fairy lights and lanterns all around the garden, over the courtyard, as a backdrop to our cake – we felt like we were on the set of ‘Mamma Mia’ and it was amazing! Between the table candles and the lighting, the whole place was just completely magical.
THE FOOD OF LOVE Laurence and I are huge foodies, so our main focus was the food and drink. We visited the area a few times before the wedding and tried some great wines before finally deciding on a traditional Spanish Verdejo and Rioja for the table. We felt it was important to try everything before we served it to our friends and family. We went all out for the food – serving the Hacienda’s Oro menu of Gambas Pil Pil, Fillet of Beef or Seabass in a Pepper Coulis and a trio of desserts including Churros, Spanish Lemon Tart and Strawberry Pavlova. We wanted amazing food that had plenty of Spanish influence and, again, something people don’t normally have in weddings in the UK. Our wedding cake was white chocolate and raspberry and chocolate fudge, with a buttercream frosting and was delicious. Our wedding favours were extra special as they were hand made by our friends after our original favours were lost. They made heart shaped Welsh cakes as a little nod to my home back in the UK. We enlisted DJ Fuller (a crazy, friendly, lovely guy) to compile our playlist for us and we still can’t believe the energy he created on the dance floor! My bridesmaids also surprised us with an early wedding gift of Nano, a Spanish guitarist, to play at the drinks reception and ceremony; absolutely stunning and a perfect addition to the day. PERFECT PICTURES We chose Talia Giraudo as our photographer because we just loved her portfolio. She manages to capture the quiet moments and those
62 CONFETI
expressions and actions that aren’t posed which are often the most real and memorable on the wedding day. There is a ‘no fuss’ element to her editing and the photos are natural, clean and elegant. As a person she was incredible too – so friendly and likeable it actually felt like she was part of the wedding party! FAVOURITE MOMENTS We had some really special surprise speeches during the day: one from my uncle on behalf of my late grandfather and one from a groomsman who wrote his ceremony reading from scratch - it was hilarious and incredibly moving at the same time, completely unique and we loved it. Another favourite moment was when ‘Despacito’ was played (an emerging theme of the wedding it seemed) and EVERYONE started busting some serious moves on the dance floor it was electric! “IF I HAD TO DO IT AGAIN I WOULD CHANGE…”? I know this is a cliché but absolutely nothing. The day was perfect, but not because of the flowers, decoration or favours on which I had focussed so much attention – it was the people. The love and support we had from our friends and family was phenomenal, and it’s that that we’ll take with us as the best memory of the day. OUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE COUPLES TAKE TIME. Weddings are over in a flash. Having ours spread over three days (we had a paella evening on the beach to welcome everyone, the ceremony the next day, and then a post-wedding
hangover pool party with a barbecue the following day) was the best decision we made. We had plenty of time to spend with each friend and family member and the whole thing just felt a lot more relaxed. We also had plenty of time for ourselves as a couple which was so special to take those moments and evenings alone. Planning a wedding can be stressful, especially for the brides and I think it would be a tragedy to miss it in the blink of an eye.
Your day, your style A wedding is one of the most joyous milestones in your life. There are both big decisions and little details to attend to as you plan your big day. Sana Catering will make sure that your wedding is a reflection of your love, your journey and, more importantly, your personality. Let´s face it, food and drink is a huge part of the day! We know how to listen to you, and we will work closely with you to understand your ideas, and then translate them into an amazing experience that will delight your guests!
For more information on Sana Catering Marbella’s Wedding catering servicesplease go to our website or contact Toni on: 639 626 096 toni@sanacateringmarbella.com www.sanacateringmarbella.com SanaCateringMarbella
PREMIER WEDDING PARTY & CORPORATE EVENT HIRE INCLUDING STAR LIGHT LED DANCEFLOORS
info@marbellaweddings.com +34 687508257
Real Weddings
An Old School Wedding! Lisa and Jamie have known each for many years, having met at school when they were 13, but when it came to arranging their wedding they wanted more than a touch of romance. Hailing from Scotland, a beautiful country, but not one generally renowned for its clear skies and sultry temperatures. Lisa and Jamie knew that they wanted to marry in the sun and, if that meant a destination wedding, they were more than up for the challenge. RELATIVELY PERFECT The fact that Lisa had relatives already living in Spain narrowed the search considerably, since she had always enjoyed the time that she spent on the Coast. “Jamie and I went to a beach wedding a few years ago and decided at that point that we would definitely have an overseas wedding,” says Lisa. “Even during the summer we are not guaranteed decent weather in Scotland and that finally swung it because we both agreed that sunshine was very important.” Having been influenced by their friend’s beach wedding, the search was on to find the perfect venue to make their big day everything that they wanted. With the help of Jenny, their wedding planner,
Lisa and Jamie felt that they had found exactly what they were looking for in the shape of Estepona’s Kempinski Hotel. “They
were able to provide the style and service that we were looking for and all this, teamed with the beach
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setting, meant that we stopped looking the moment we had seen what the Kempinski could offer,” recalls Lisa. A LITTLE BIT OF SCOTLAND IN SPAIN They might have chosen to hold their ceremony in a foreign country, but that didn’t mean that Lisa and Jamie wanted to let go of their Scottish roots entirely. When it came to making those all important decisions about décor, dress and their ceremony they were determined to honour the country of their birth. “Our bridesmaids were in a cornflower blue colour to match with the boys who all wore traditional Scottish kilts. We kept everything else neutral with our tables and chair sashes etc. all in white,” says Lisa. “We wanted to have a traditional Scottish touch running throughout so – apart from the kilts – we also had a piper to pipe all our guests into the venue and chose whiskey favours for the male guests and traditional Scottish songs to finish off the night.”
To capture their visually striking day, Lisa chose Julia as their photographer on the recommendation of Jenny from Marbella Wedding Angels and was very happy with the way that she
worked with the wedding party and the guests to achieve the results that they wanted. FAVOURITE MOMENTS
Seeing Jamie as I was walking up the aisle, getting
ready with my bridesmaids, mum, mother in law and auntie, all of the speeches and dancing the night away with all my closest family and friends.
Address Book Venue & Caterer: Kempinski Hotel Wedding Planner: Jenny @ Marbella Wedding Angels Flowers: Virginia Florist
“IF I HAD TO DO IT AGAIN I WOULD CHANGE…” Absolutely nothing!
Wedding Dress: Sofia Tolly
OUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE COUPLES
Photographer & Videographer: Julia Roder Photography
Use a wedding planner!
Jenny made every step of the way so much easier for us, especially as we were planning everything from afar. From organising cake tastings and setting up meeting with photographers to making sure everything ran smoothly on the day, she was worth her weight in gold.
Hair & Make-up: Golden Tarts Salon
Minister: Natasha Johnson Music: The band the Q. Singer Amelinde sang at the ceremony.
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Real Weddings
L O V E is in the Air Nicola and Paul created a personalised celebration of their love in Nerja. PERFECTLY PLANNED I always said I would know when Paul was going to propose to me. However, when he took me to New York for my 30th birthday and asked me to marry him in the middle of Times Square, I honestly had no idea at all. We always knew we would marry in Spain. We had attended a wedding in Nerja a few years ago, fell in love with it and decided that’s where we would take our vows. After the proposal
we started to contact wedding planners in the area and spoke to nine different companies but it was Scott and his team at Sunshine Weddings Spain that stood out from the crowd. They were professional yet still personal and completely took the stress out of planning for us. Everything
was perfect on the day, even more that I could ever have wished for.
THE DREAM DRESS I went dress shopping with my mum who is famously indecisive, so I expected it to be a very long day. Much to my surprise 66 CONFETI
I fell in love with two dresses in the first shop we visited and an hour later I walked out of there with the dresses and a veil. I ended up going for the only style I said I definitely didn’t want. Being a little on the shorter side, I was expected my dress to be a fitted style, yet when I put the A-line gown on, the fit was so perfect I knew it was the one. It was obviously meant to be. The bridesmaids looked stunning; we went for non-traditional dresses and flip-flops, which the girls loved. Lorraine from Princess Bride looked after my hair and make-up. She recreated a look from photos I had shown her, adjusting it to match the dresses and my style. I was worried about the make-up lasting in the heat but it didn’t budge all day.
I am not really that into flowers, but when I saw the effect you could achieve by dressing the terrace with fresh blooms I changed my mind (and
I say my mum is the indecisive one!) I wanted to keep it simple and elegant so I chose white and
pinks for the ceremony’s floral displays and the centerpieces. I must say the result was breathtaking. THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX I wanted something a little bit different for myself and the maids, so when my mum showed me the idea of using decorated fans instead of carrying bouquets I jumped at the idea. Continuing the theme of being non-traditional, we didn’t want a typical wedding cake, opting instead for a cake of cheese accompanied by crackers and chutneys – let me tell you, it went down a treat.
Our ceremony was conducted by the one and only Padre Peter, who set the tone for the entire day. During the
ceremony singer Felipe Madrid created a lovely atmosphere which he continued throughout the cocktail hour. For the entertainment, we decided to approach a local band from home called The Ratpack who play at our local pub. They don’t usually do weddings but were delighted to be asked and flew in the day before the wedding. They sang ‘Thinking Out Loud’ by Ed Sheeran for our first dance and
then ‘My Girl’ for the ‘father and daughter’ dance. They kept the dance floor full all night by playing a mix of jazz, swing and modern music. CAUGHT ON CAMERA
Our photographer was Paco Montagut, who was incredibly professional and very easy to work with. We provided him with a
FAVOURITE MOMENTS There were so many incredible moments throughout the day that it’s hard to decide which were the most memorable. Walking down the aisle with my dad in front of all of our close friends and family was pretty memorable to say the least. The setting was
like something out of a fairytale and then to top it off I got to marry the man of my dreams. Both of our families have been fantastic throughout and we couldn’t have done it without them.
ADDRESS BOOK Wedding Planner: sunshineweddingsspain.com Hair/Make-up: Lorraine @ princess-bride.co.uk Flowers: Mari Floristas Minister: Padre Peter Venue: Venue in Nerja exclusive to sunshineweddingsspain.com Photography: pacomontagut.com
list of images that we wanted and he worked from that, managing to get exactly what we were after. We were delighted with the results.
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Real Weddings
Timeless Glamour
For Claire and Jon getting married wasn’t just a chance to honour their love – it was an excuse to celebrate in the sun with their closest friends and family.
GOING DOWN UNDER I have known Jon for a long time through mutual friends and there was always something between us. At 21 Jon decided to leave the UK and travel the world, ending up in Sydney, Australia. He begged me
beautiful botanical gardens, water features and different areas throughout which facilitated our wedding's needs.
like a logical step after leaving university and was the first opportunity we had had to be together.
Fiesta Sol's catering department to provide all food and drink elements for the wedding. Our experience with them was seamless, they were so helpful from start to finish and worked with me to ensure every detail was covered.
to fly over once I had finished university via love letters, cards and regular emails. This seemed
After four years we moved back to the UK and Jon proposed at Gleneagles in Scotland on a romantic spa break. He chose Gleneagles for its picturesque setting (and he is more than a little golf obsessed). The weekend was so special and something I wasn't expecting at all. EXCLUSIVELY YOURS Finca la Concepcion was the most perfect venue, with
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Tara at Fiesta Sol was our wedding planner and she was the perfect fit for the venue as she had organised previous weddings there and knew what worked and what didn’t. We also used
ALL OUT GLAMOUR Even though we were getting married in botanical gardens the venue could be suited to quite a glamorous style so we decided to ramp things up a bit. I chose a Riki Dalal
bespoke dress, taking one of her original
designs and having it custom made (for instance,
I had the sleeves removed due to the heat) and asked for it to be more fitted to enhance my shape. The dress was incredible. Knowing myself well I decided not to buy new Jimmy Choos for my day as I knew they would be off in no time. I decided to wear some old favourites for comfort and as part of my something old. I had eight bridesmaids and two flower girls, all wearing dresses from ASOS. I loved the grey tones but the extra sparkle on the dresses complemented my dress as well. Not being a huge fan of wearing my hair up for occasions, I opted for half up half down with a loose wave. Due to my dark features I decided to go for a smokey brown eye but fairly natural lip colour. Jon and all of his groomsmen went for summer suits from Next. We were so surprised to
find them there as it was a bit of a last resort, based on Jon having something set in his mind. He made up on cost for his three stag dos, including Las Vegas. The colour of
the suits looked perfect with the bridesmaids and it all worked beautifully together.
ACCESSORISE ALL AREAS I wanted my day to be all white with little bits of grey. All the guests wore pastel colours and the photos looked amazing. I hate big bold colours. I went
quite OTT with flowers, all white roses, orchids, gypsyphelia, peonies in huge arrangements on the table. At the base
of the flowers were numerous little t-lights in jars which, in the evening, gave the tables a fairytale aura. The tables
were set under a huge tree with fairy lights and glass baubles hanging down and were, of course, named after golf
Address Book clubs (Jon's contribution to the décor!) Neither Jon nor I are religious, so we decided to go for more of a spiritual ceremony. It was perfect for us and really sentimental as we involved family members. James, my brother, did a reading which was a real tear jerker and both our mothers lit candles which we exchanged. It was beautiful. A PHOTO FINISH
We chose Radka Horvath. I found her after doing my own research and decided to book her due to her relaxed photos - not too staged - and her experience with natural environments. She captured
the special moments perfectly without being too present. She also
respected both Jon's and my desire not to spend hours being photographed, as we wanted to immerse ourselves in the day.
TOGETHER FOREVER
One of my favourite moments had to be when my father and I got to spend time alone in the car on the way to the venue. I felt so proud of him
and my family. I loved walking out to sit down to the meal with all of our guests there, the tables looking amazing and I felt so over whelmed yet happy at the same time. My grandma,
aged 87, also managed to fly over to Spain to see me walk down the aisle which again was very special. We also had a beach party the next day, providing a barbecue and private bar for all of our guests. This was amazing,
the sun was shining, cocktails were flowing and both Jon and I were completely relaxed. We both just felt so lucky and in love.
Wedding Planner - Tara @ Fiesta Sol Wedding Dress - Riki Dalal designer, The White Company Ramsbottom Bridesmaids - ASOS Groom and groomsmen - Next Flowers - Virginia Florista virginiaflorista.com Ceremonist - Vicky Rhodes Catering - Fiesta Sol Catering Cake – Sweet Things by Fi DJ - Tristan Harper weddingdjmarbella.co.uk Violinist – Quike houseviolin.com Photography - Radka Horvath radkahorvath.com
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Real Weddings
Sunshine YOU ARE MY
Jenny and Matthew brightened up their rustic wedding day by adding splashes of yellow and DIY details. barrier, they keep everything stress free and super organised with spreadsheets and constant emails and updates.
A TOTAL PRO Our whirlwind romance started in 2011 when we were both working at a golf club where Matty was Head Pro. We bought our own home after only six months, had our little boy Ollie the following February and his sister Mia seven years later. We are the best of friends and I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason.
LOVE IS A NATURAL FEELING We didn’t want to hold our reception in a modern venue and, after seeing photos of the Hacienda San Jose, we felt it could be the one. The moment we drove through the gates on our first visit to the venue, we knew instantly we had made the right choice. The mixture of the rustic hacienda and breathtaking views was ideal for our intimate celebration. The variety of garden areas gave us lots of space to create our day the way we wanted. An alfresco wedding breakfast overlooking the pool and dancing under the stars - we couldn’t wait to celebrate our special day there.
Matty’s parents have a home in Spain and it is where we went on our first holiday as a couple and also as a family. When we
came across the quaint and beautiful old town of Mijas Pueblo, Matty said in passing that we should get married there. Little did we realise this would one day become a reality. As Matty is Catholic, it
allowed us to get married legally in Spain. If it wasn’t for Scott, our wedding planner, sorting out all the endless, incomprehensible paperwork to make sure our ceremony was legal, I don’t think we would have got married abroad.
Sunshine Weddings Spain were great from start to finish. I felt 70 CONFETI
completely confident in them; if I didn’t like something, no problem, they would find me an alternative solution. I couldn’t recommend them highly enough. The actual day went very smoothly, not even one hiccup. I had explained to them everything I envisioned
for my wedding day and they delivered above and beyond what I had expected. I really
do feel if you are getting married abroad you most definitely need a wedding planner. Not only do they help with the language
SHABBY CHIC We wanted to keep everything very fresh looking, so mixed rustic whites with lemon. We wanted the venue to be the focal point because, since it is so beautiful, it really doesn’t need much adding to it. My bouquet consisted of cream/lemon licianthus, it was MASSIVE. I decided to keep it, and it now takes pride of place in my kitchen as a beautiful
ADDRESS BOOK Wedding Planner: Sunshine Weddings Spain sunshineweddingsspain.com Dress: Pronovias, pronovias.com Shoes: Jenny Packham jennypackham.com Make-up: Lorraine @ princess-bride.co.uk Church: Immaculada Conception Venue: Hacienda San Jose Mijas @ sunshineweddingsspain.com Flowers: Bunches bunchesspain.com
reminder. For the bridesmaids I kept it simple with gypsophillia bouquets. For the décor, jam jars filled with flowers were placed on top of logs, fairy lights were strung over the wedding breakfast area and we used a fairy light curtain as the backdrop to our beautiful cake. Our table plan was actually attached to one of the glass doors of the hacienda, which looked very pretty. We placed a
Polaroid camera with an old fashioned suitcase so guests could leave cards and take photos of themselves.
I wore a dress from Pronovias with Jenny Packham shoes and the bridesmaids sported a lemon wrap dress which can be worn a variety of ways. The groom chose blue lined trousers with a white linen shirt and lemon bow tie. Luckily, two of my bridesmaids are hairdressers so they looked after everyone’s hair. I had my hair up at the back with a lovely swooping effect to compliment my cathedral veil. My make-up was very natural, I just wanted to look like the best version of me. GIDDY UP On the wedding morning everything was serene and relaxed. I remember standing in the tower looking up at Mijas Pueblo where we were soon to get married, and feeling that it was totally surreal. I was on cloud nine by the time Dad and I arrived at the church in Mijas Pueblo by horse and carriage. We were welcomed with applause from lots of tourists and locals which was an incredible experience. The ceremony itself, I will never forget. I walked down
the aisle to ‘Canon in D’ played on guitar by Nano. My beloved nan stood up and read a piece about love and then we took our vows. Ollie, our little boy, was so proud to bring us the rings and then we signed the register to ‘Ave Maria’. After taking photos outside the church, Matty, Ollie, Mia and myself travelled back down to the town in the horse and carriage. It was spectacular. KEEPING IT PERSONAL During the reception we had Roberto Cantero playing his sax. He is out of this world and as soon as he started he got the party going. I still smile when I think about how awesome he was. For favours Matty bought all the men personalised PRO VI balls with Mrs and Mrs Blackhusrt and our wedding date. For the ladies we had bars of lemon soap wrapped in hessian and ribbon. Our
Saxophone: Roberto @ robertocantero.com DJ: DJ Fuller fullerdj.com Photographer: Pierre Richardson
made it to the wedding, that Ollie and Mia were able to share the day with us, walking down the aisle with my father and then getting married to my best friend. I would love to do it all again but I don’t think our bank balance would agree be too impressed! WORDS TO DESCRIBE OUR WEDDING… Memorable, Unique, Romantic Entertaining, Fun, Lively, Fairytale
cake was designed by Omaya at Cake Couture Marbella. We didn’t want a traditional fruit cake, choosing vanilla instead. We kept the design simple and elegant with white flowers and lace with a hint of lemon.
CAPTURE THIS I chose Pierre Richardson because I loved his photography style - natural and flawless. Our children are our world so we were delighted that Pierre focused a lot on capturing beautiful photos of them. He made the standard family photos a breeze and snapped everything we wanted. MY FAVOURITE MOMENTS Honestly, I still get emotional thinking about our wedding highlights. The fact that my nan CONFETI 71
Real Weddings
Our Mutual
FRIENDS
If you're very lucky and have some great mates you won't ever have to use a dating site. This is what Lisa and Joris found when they encountered each other courtesy of some helpful friends.
FIRST ENCOUNTERS
Since we had some mutual friends we saw each other at various parties, but it was at an open air party that we really started talking to each other. I even remember the exact date - the 13th of April 2013! At that party Joris started to show some interest and at the end he kissed me for the first time. Before he went home he asked for my cellphone number and he left his number in my list under the name Jorisje. The next day I found his number in my cellphone and we soon became soulmates.
A CASARES CEREMONY
We had been visiting Spain two or three times a year since the start of our relationship, because my parents had bought an apartment at Casares some months before we started dating. So, in those four years, the Costa del Sol became a second home for us.
Finca Cortesin is, in our eyes, the most beautiful hotel with the best service we have ever experienced; also the food is always perfect and the hotel is full of hidden treasures. My
parents' apartment is actually situated in the grounds of Finca Cortesin, so we often went there for drinks and dinner. The first time I saw the romantic garden, I knew I didn’t want to marry in Belgium, as I love romantic movies and this was the perfect place for the fairytale wedding of my dreams. Also, Finca Cortesin incorporates an amazing beach club, so the combination of the garden setting for the ceremony and then the dinner and party at the beach was the perfect combination for our guests and us.
KISS (KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID!) Key words to describe our wedding would be: romantic, elegant and simple. Our colour scheme
was ice blue, light grey, white and silver. We created a logo which was central for a lot of things: invitations, table numbers, tags for vans, tissues, bubbles, menu. The setting for the ceremony itself was very romantic, as was the gazebo where we got married. I called it a secret garden. And by just framing the gazebo with loads of
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beautiful white blooms, it was our perfect fairytale setting. The gardens, like the beach, didn’t need much work because they were so naturally beautiful, so we decided on the 'less is more' option there. The dress wasn’t easy to find, because I wanted something atypical but with a very romantic touch. After a huge dress hunt in Belgium, it was once again Spain that contained the answer. The bridesmaids were dressed in light ice blue dresses and the groomsmen shone in grey and white to blend in with Joris who was dressed in grey and blue. The tables were decorated simply with three kinds of white flowers in differently sized vases. So the tables were all white, with just a grey touch for the water glass and then the menu with our logo in blue and grey and the table numbers were also marked in grey and blue. To make our fairytale setting complete, our dance floor was a 'sky full of stars' where our opening dance was the one of the most beautiful moments of the day.
A FINE FEAST
We had already fallen for the simple but classy food served at the Finca so we decided to opt for a traditional menu: a choice of meat or fish followed by a lavish dessert buffet. Our wedding cake was a traditional white creation with white flowers. For the reception music we went for Georgina, who did an amazing job from singing for the first song to the father and daughter dance. As we are from Belgium, the country of Tomorrowland, music was very important for us. Carla,
our wedding planner, recommend Who Killed The DJ and they were the best decision of the evening I think: four men who
gave absolutely everything with a line-up of sax, violin and drums. It was an non-stop party for four hours. Nobody wanted to leave the room even to go to the toilet, because they were playing one great song after another!
“IF I HAD TO DO IT AGAIN I WOULD CHANGE…”?
HAPPY SNAPS We chose Eloy Muñoz for our photographs and we were very happy – especially when we saw the results! Alexandra
day when I completely forgot everything and enjoyed every moment. The pre-wedding period was quite stressful, but it was all worth it.
was absolutely fantastic at making everyone feel happy and comfortable while Eloy got on with the important business of taking some amazing shots.
WHAT WERE YOUR FAVOURITE MOMENTS? To be honest: our favourite moment was just having our best friends and family coming over from Belgium to celebrate our special day with us. We
felt so blessed that they made this effort for us. Everyone got into the swing of things straight away and it really was one big happy family. Still, if I have to choose one moment I would say the opening dance with Georgina's amazing version of Ellie Goulding's 'Still Falling for You' and the dance floor decorated with stars, I felt like a princess for the first and last time in my life. Joris says that his favourite moment was when I walked down the stairs and he saw me for the first time.
I am a total perfectionist and there is always something or other that I feel could be done more successfully but, for the first time in my life, I can say that I would not change a thing. It was a
What would be your advice for future couples getting married? Don’t forget that it is YOUR day, so always listen to your heart!
ADDRESS BOOK Venue: Finca Cortesin Wedding Planner: Tucco Weddings & Unique Affairs tucco.es Caterer: Finca Cortesin Wedding Dress: Atelier de Pronovias Hair & Make-up: Lorraine Photographer: Eloy Muñoz Music: Georgina O’Neill and Who Killed The DJ
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SAFARI, So Good
Wietske and Peter’s story started in the Netherlands but reached its peak in Spain – with a few small detours along the way!
ALL WORK AND NO PLAY...
Peter and I met each other nine years ago during a night out. Peter was very busy, undertaking a lot of travelling for work. He had just come back from the USA and was spending a few days in the Netherlands before flying to Japan, which is when his friends said, “You’re too busy! Come and party with us in Den Bosch!” The same evening we decided to go out. We saw each other and, immediately, there was a spark. However I had had some very bad experiences with dating, so when Peter asked for my number I actually told him that my phone was broken. Luckily he was very stubborn and didn’t give up. In the end I gave him my number and after the first date we were both ‘officially’ in love!
FOREIGN AFFAIR Peter proposed in South Africa and it was very romantic! He wasn’t especially enthusiastic when I tried to bring up the subject of weddings, but
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it was my dream to marry him, because he is the man of my dreams and my best friend. He didn’t
want me to expect a proposal, which was why he refused to talk about weddings etc. Anyway, the day finally arrived and we went to a mountain to see the sunset with a group of friends and business partners. I was really looking forward to it, because we had been led to believe that the sunsets were spectacular at this location. When we arrived at the mountain in the safari car, all I could see was a big campfire and a table with lovely food and drinks, which was impressive. Then our friends told us they would leave us alone so we could enjoy the sunset together. I was very happy and surprised and said, “Did you know about this?” He said, “No, of course not! And you? ” I still didn’t have a clue, so we sat down and enjoyed the beautiful sunset and the delicious food and wine. It seemed that one moment Peter was sitting beside me and the
next he was down on one knee and telling me how much he loved me. Firstly I thought it was a joke, because I really didn’t expect it. But when he continued and told me he wanted to grow old with me I finally knew that this was a proposal! We both shed a few tears (no surprise there!) and we enjoyed a quiet champagne toast. It was very romantic and I loved the engagement ring, which was silver with small leaves.
Our dream was to get married in Andalucía so, after a long search, we found Cortijo Barranco on the internet - and that was also love at first sight.
A QUIET CORTIJO AND MILES OF STYLE The beautiful views, the sunflowers, the romantic covered patio, the vintage details; Cortijo
Barranco was exactly what we were looking for. I think it was meant to be, especially when we visited the location and it was just what we expected. On top of all this we were impressed by the price and that there was more than enough accommodation for our family and friends. We didn’t wanted a wedding planner, so I did everything myself. I made the wedding
signs, the ‘happy tears’ handkerchiefs, the table decorations and I bought
many pink and white lamps and lights but, since
the location is already beautiful, I knew that it would be perfect! We really liked the whole atmosphere of the location, the old details etc. because that is also the style of our interior. We chose a simple, rustic bridal bouquet; Thalictrum Splendide White, which is a variety of Plantipp. I also had these flowers in my hair. My dress was from Sweetheart Bridal, a lace boho gown with beautiful details like an open-cut lace waist with a low lace back. I chose red high heeled sandals because I’m all about the detail! The colour red also featured in my nails and lipstick.
My husband wore a suit by Alexander Alesi and his shoes were from Pepe Milan, His bow tie and cufflinks came from Little John. My hairdresser was Layla Estilismo from Arcos de la Frontera and I was daring and designed my own make-up look!
WHAT WERE YOUR FAVOURITE MOMENTS? Everything! How could we choose? The best thing
about our wedding was welcoming our family and friends to participate in and enjoy our special day. We formed a very close knit
group and it felt as though we had become one big family, which was a very special feeling. A friend of
ours conducted the ceremony and my brother-in-law the church ceremony. They know us best so it was very special that they were in charge, rather than someone we didn’t know.
“IF I HAD TO DO IT AGAIN I WOULD CHANGE…”?
It sounds like a cliché, but would you believe me if I said, not a thing?
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE COUPLES GETTING MARRIED? Really, not everything has to be a big, mad hassle. You can keep costs down and still have a gorgeous wedding by keeping it simple.
ADDRESS BOOK Venue: Cortijo Barranco Wedding Dress: Sweetheart Bridal Hair: Layla Estilismo in Arcos de la Frontera Groom - Alexander Alesi Photographer: The Love Hunters thelovehunters.com
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& me
Superman
Daisy and Sean might not have had the most conventional start to their relationship, but that didn't mean that they wanted to skimp on their big day!
FANCY THAT!
We met more than nine years ago at a fancy dress party (Sean was dressed as Superman and I was the Queen of Hearts). He was good friends with my older brothers, so you can imagine that their reaction when they found out that we were going out together was not the best. My brother Darren told us we needed to stop seeing each other however, against his wishes we kept on seeing each other until finally, six months later, he accepted the fact that Sean and I were going to be together for a long time. It’s now amazing to have two best mates as your in-laws. We always knew that we wanted to get married abroad and we have been on holiday to Marbella a few times and always had a lovely time; we even got engaged on the beach in Marbella in September 2015, so it holds a special place
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in both our hearts. Plus, I think
Marbella has something for everyone and we wanted a place not just for our wedding but for our guests to come for a holiday and not be stuck in one area. As anyone who has ever visited Marbella knows, there are many different places you can go to and explore.
A TIME AND A PLACE
The moment we stepped into the El Cortijo De Los Caballos we knew this was the venue where we would marry. Not only is this place beautiful, what we especially liked was how private it is. We both have big families so we were able to have 34 of our closest family members stay with us for a whole week! The setting is just breathtaking; everything about it is beautiful. We loved how colourful it is, with all of the lovely blossoming flowers. We wanted the WOW
factor and this place certainly had it. On the day of the wedding everyone was blown away with the venue - they told us they had never been to a venue or wedding like it before. As far as the style went I guess we were going for 'elegant and stylish' with some quirky little touches. Our colour theme was white with a touch of pale pink. The venue had so
much character and was surrounded by so many brightly coloured flowers that we didn’t need to
jazz the venue up to look pretty, as it already looked wonderful. I didn’t think our centrepieces were going to be that great, as I aimed for simplicity with gyp and I did start to worry that they may look sparse and quite boring. I was so wrong! Our florist
and stylist Claire did a fabulous job and they
were HUGE. They really made an impact and were in beautiful tall glass vases which were great, as people weren’t blocked by the centrepieces and you could easily talk to the person opposite you. My bouquet consisted of white roses surrounded by gyp, Sean had a white rose and gyp button hole and our bridesmaid carried gyp bouquets. TWO PIECES My two-piece dress I bought at a store in London from a designer called Riki Dalal. The
moment I tried it on I just knew it was the perfect choice as it was so light and compatible, yet beautiful and different. I had never seen a dress like it, which is another reason I loved it so much. It was also ideal for a wedding abroad as it wasn’t big and heavy. I loved my dress so much I
would wear it again and again; also the Riki Dalal team were so lovely and helpful, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Our bridesmaids' dresses were from an online website called ASOS. It was tricky at first finding a dress that suited all three girls and it was also difficult to find a really light nude colour as I didn’t want anything too bright. The girls were amazing and they all loved the dresses and I must say they looked beautiful! Our little flower girls wore cream summer dresses with little bows at the back and, with a cute little gyp headband, they looked adorable. Our pageboys wore cream shorts, white shirts and brown loafers. They looked so cool! We were lucky to have the help of Claire and Rebecca from Rachel Rose Weddings who styled our whole venue for the day and did a brilliant job. My mum also helped a lot, as she has a flair for design and her little touches really stood out. We had panama hats for the guys (which everyone loved), fans and parasols for the ladies and each guest had white sunglasses, which were personalised.
PARTY PIECES
We asked Sana Catering to handle the food aspect of the day and they were absolutely amazing. We chose tapas to start followed by three different types of Paella (Vegetarian, Chicken and Chorizo and Seafood). All of our guests were very complimentary about the food and it went down a treat.
Everything about Sana Catering was fantastic; not only was the food outstanding but the staff were so friendly and professional. We couldn’t speak highly enough of them as a company and Toni Foran, the lady who owns
the company, was just incredible, she is so friendly lady and was helpful throughout the process. She also made our tasting experience one to remember and she really looked after us, not to mention the lovely touch of personalised cocktail glasses for my late brother Gary, who passed away 10 years ago, and me. All of our guests were served Long Island Ice Tea (which was his favourite drink) during Sean’s speech. Toni made them extra special by personalising them with a crystal heart and a G initial. All of the staff brought them out at the right moment so that we could raise a glass to him. We couldn’t thank Toni enough for making that happen and making it so personal and lovely. CONFETI 77
ADDRESS BOOK The cake story is quite funny. My mum is great at making cakes so, when we were all coming up with ideas for the wedding, Sean asked that our wedding cake should be a carrot cake, as it's his favourite. So my mum, being my mum, kindly offered to make it for us. Had we known that she would have spent 12 hours the day before the wedding in a boiling hot kitchen, baking a three-tier cake we wouldn't have let her do it. She is a super mum - not only could she not get all the ingredients for the cake in Spain, she also didn’t have the appropriate cooking utensils or cake tins, so she had to improvise massively, but still she did an absolutely fantastic job and the cake was not only visually beautiful it also tasted amazing. Every little piece of cake was eaten, so thanks, Mum!
A MUSICAL FEAST
The music was a real mixture. We started with The Rivermen (two guitarists) for the cocktail hour and they were great, exactly what we wanted and they brought a really cool vibe to the wedding. Then we had Georgie O’Neill to sing at the last hour of dinner and for the first hour of the party and she even sang our first dance. Having live music during dinner was so nice and Georgie is hugely talented. We knew before we booked her what song we wanted for our first dance ('We Found Love' by Rihanna) but the version we chose was an acoustic live lounge variation. We were amazed when we looked on Georgie’s website and saw that she had actually posted a video of her singing this cover. As soon as we saw this we didn’t need to look any further, it was fate and she really got the party started! After Georgie we had DJ Tristan, who was also great. We had concerns
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Venue: El Cortijo De Los Caballos Caterer: Sana Catering, Toni Foran Wedding Dress: Riki Dalal Make up: Ella from Golden Tarts Photographer: Anna Gaza - Limelight Videographer: Evergreen Production Music: Rivermen, Georgie O’Neill, Tristan Harper about finding a good DJ as we were worried they would play the typical cheesy wedding songs, but Tristan was fantastic. He really understood the vibe and played some brilliant songs which got everyone up dancing. The dance floor was packed from start to finish, we couldn’t believe it - he did a great job!
PORTRAIT OF A DAY
We booked Anna Gaza from Limelight and she was lovely. We spoke a couple of times before the wedding and our main point that we wanted to make clear is that we didn’t want any 'posey' pictures as we wanted to enjoy our day and didn’t want to have to stand in front of a camera for hours. We just wanted the
images of our day to be as natural as possible. We
didn’t even notice Anna was there, as she was so great at capturing lots of natural shots. Although, she persuaded us to pose for a few pictures she made it fun and not stressful at all. We have loved looking through our photos, it makes us smile and brings back such lovely memories.
WHAT WERE YOUR FAVOURITE MOMENTS?
That’s a hard question, Can we say the whole day? From morning to night we both enjoyed every second!
“IF I HAD TO DO IT AGAIN I WOULD CHANGE…”?
We have thought about this question for some time and we honestly cannot think of anything that we would change. Every moment was beautiful and everyone involved was truly amazing. All of our family and friends made it the perfect day it was.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE COUPLES GETTING MARRIED?
From the day you get engaged to the day you marry enjoy every day and every moment. Have fun and include your family and friends.
Try not to get caught up on the little things; remember why you’re getting married and the true meaning behind it.
HAIR SALON & BEAUTY SOLUTIONS
WEDDING PACKAGES AVA I L A B L E
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION Tel. 951 518 680 marbella@thebardou.com
Playas del Duque Puerto Banús salon.thebardou.com/marbella
Wedding Photo CHECKLIST
Y
our wedding day is one that you’ll want to remember forever. You and your hubby will, of course, remember the details: the feeling as you caught the first look after the I do’s, what made you shed a tear and what song made you get jiggy on the dance floor! But the best way to make sure all your wedding memories are captured for a lifetime, is through the photographs. They say a photo speaks a thousand words and you won’t catch us disagreeing. CONFETI recommends listing your ‘must have’ moments for your photographer, the kind of photos that represent the key moments of your wedding. Now most wedding photographers on the Costa del Sol are extremely experienced and know exactly what to capture, but perhaps you have put a lot of time
PARTY TIME Weddings are a great place to break it down on the dance floor. You will want photos of the good time everyone had during your special day, as well as any entertainment you’ve hired.
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and effort into intricate details and it’s important that you preserve these. It doesn’t hurt to be overly organised - lets face it, no one wants to spend the whole wedding day posing for group photos, so the quicker you can get your family and group shots in the can, the better! This can be quite chaotic once large groups of guests are involved and people are easily confused or go missing only to be found propping up the bar. Prepare a list of must have family/guest group photos and share this with your photographer and your guests for a smooth, stress free photo call. CONFETI has put together a selection of our favourite wedding day moments to help you compile our own list for your special day, so that nothing goes unrecorded.
Photo by The Love Hunters
Photo by The Love Hunters
THE SEND OFF If you’re having a magical sparkler send off or a ‘Just Married’ car, this moment is one to capture, before you go off into the night as man and wife to live happily ever after! CEREMONY ACCESSORIES Get some of those all important special details:-programmes, flowers, candles etc. THE WEDDING VENUE Capture the atmosphere with beautiful shots of your venue. Try to get some of the set up before the guests take over.
THE GUEST BOOK Don’t forget to shoot some candid images of people signing the guest book.
SIGNATURE COCKTAILS & CANAPÉS Any fun concoctions you’ve arranged with your cocktail reception always look good. Pimp your Prosecco, Signature Cocktails, Whiskey Trolley, Lemonade stand, as well as yummy canapés.
Photo by The Love Hunters
Photo by The Love Hunters
OFFICIAL FAMILY PHOTOS Make sure to snap a couple of photos with your immediate family members after the ceremony. These are photos they will cherish forever and be grateful to have. It’s also important, before the party starts, to get all the family/group photos out of the way. If there are any group shots you want with cousins, aunts, uncles, or close family and friends, arrange these beforehand.
Photo by The Love Hunters
THE FIRST LOOK The special moment where you first lay eyes on each other as bride and groom is a magical shot. This also goes for the father of the bride when he sees you in your gown for the first time.
WEDDING CEREMONY MOMENTS There will be so many special moments during the ceremony, including the ‘I Do’’s and first kiss so, if you have anything special planned, make sure you inform your photographer so he or she can capture all the looks of pure happiness and bliss while you exchange your vows.
Photo by Nani De Perez
CEREMONY MUSICIANS A picture of the ceremony musicians in action is always a good idea.
BOUTONNIERES AND BOUQUETS Getting a photo of the groom’s boutonnière and bride’s bouquet at the start of the day are a must. A little later down the line both these items are sure to be worse for wear, with the groom taking off his jacket to pull some shapes on the dance floor or a gaggle of ladies grabbing for your tossed bouquet.
Photo by The Love Hunters
GOOD MORNING Set the tone that today is a memorable day. Whether it’s jumping on the bed with your bridesmaids in matching robes or popping an early morning champagne with your best man.
Photo by The Love Hunters Photo by Nani De Perez
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ALL DRESSED UP Final photos of the bride in her gown before leaving are a must, we even love candid moments of dressing, attaching the veil, lacing up the dress, as well as shots of the mother of the bride and maid of honour helping. Make sure you get that magazine worthy cover shot once your bridal look is fully complete. GETTING READY Have your photographer switch from bride and bridesmaids to groom and groomsmen to capture the full preparation process. This is a great time also to shoot some candid photos of details, such as your perfume, shoes, accessories, rings and, of course, the dress. Photo by Nani De Perez
THE CEREMONY SET UP Before everyone arrives at the ceremony is a perfect time to photograph how the ceremony space actually looks, be it a open field, church or the beach.
Photos by Nani De Perez Photo by Anna Gaza
Photo by The Love Hunters
FLOWER GIRLS & PAGEBOYS If you’ve chosen to have to little friends or family members as flower girls an pageboys, an adorable shot is a must.
THE SPEECHES & TOASTS Natural shots from the speeches are magical; the spontaneous reactions from you and your guests, be it howling with laughter or shedding a tear, are priceless.
INVITATION SUITE Not a typical requirement, but why not bring along one of your wedding invitations? Your photographer can set up a quick snap of them looking pretty. No one usually gets to see a professional image of these and this will be an attractive keepsake. 82 CONFETI
GROUP SHOT A group image of everyone that has attended is important, especially if you have an extensive guest list. You will want to remember all your loved ones being around you and having fun. Group shots of just the gals and just the guys are also sweet.
THE WEDDING BREAKFAST If you’re food lovers like us at Confeti, you’ll want to get some artistic shots of your first meal as Mr and Mrs - and we mean of the actual food as well! You will want to remember how mouthwateringly tasty it was.
ALL THE SMALL THINGS This is where you really need to let the photographer know about all the little details you want to remember. Whether you’ve spend hours choosing flower arrangements or décor set up, make sure every single element is photographed.
Photo by The Love Hunters
THE WEDDING CAKE The layers of icing, design and details will be painstakingly recorded by a photo, taking you back to how delicious it was. Make sure that you also get the classic one of you cutting the cake.
Photo by Radka Horvath
Photo by The Love Hunters
BRIDESMAIDS & GROOMSMEN You need some photos alongside your bride tribe and groomsmen too. These can be a little bit more relaxed, so have fun with them! Photo by The Love Hunters
THE BRIDE WALKING DOWN THE AISLE You will be so overwhelmed with emotion and nerves as you take your steps down the aisle, this is a moment where a photo really can say it all.
Photo by The Love Hunters
GQ GROOM Don’t forget the groom, of course!
YOUR GRAND EXIT An after the ‘I Do’ moment where you’re beaming with happiness is one we love. Leaving your ceremony in style in a vintage car or being showered in confetti? Catch it on camera.
THE FIRST DANCE That classic timeless shot.
Photo by The Love Hunters Photo by The Love Hunters
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The Best
Bridal Blooms
Many of the brides who choose to marry on the Costa del Sol have harnessed the vision and expertise of the Virginia Florist team to organise their floral arrangements. We have been so consistently impressed by the quality of their work that we dropped in to have a word with Virginia.
Where did your passion for flowers come from? My mother opened a flower shop when I was only one year old, so I grew up surrounded by flowers. There was a brief moment when I thought that I should branch out and do something different, but in the end I couldn’t resist the lure of their beauty.
How long have you been working on floral decoration?
I OFTEN ASK THEM HOW THEY IMAGINE THE DAY OF THEIR WEDDING, WHAT COLOURS THEY LIKE, WHAT KIND OF FLOWERS THEY PREFER AND FROM THERE WE CAN DEVELOP THE DESIGN.
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About 12 years, since I finished high school. I took my first course in floristry and from there I haven’t stopped.
Where do your customers come from? Many of my customers are Spanish but I have noticed an increasingly international clientele who come from France, UK, Netherlands, Russia and various Arab countries. There really is no typical customer profile because people from all over the world love to marry on the Costa del Sol.
How has floral decoration for weddings evolved over the years? I believe that every year represents a different style. At first it was all much more baroque, then we went through an era that was dictated by the failing economy and the fact that people were trying to create the best effect with the least amount of money. More recently that style has developed into vintage or shabby chic and its variants. Since I am able to work with a wide range of clients it gives me the freedom to create an enormous variety of floral arrangements. Obviously a Russian person doesn’t have the same taste as a Spanish client and that allows you to develop your creativity.
What advice can you give a bride to help her choose her floral design? Many arrive with a definite design; the wedding planners are an enormous help here, as they guide the brides to identify their style. Generally I study the brides, find out what they like and what
kind of wedding they want to have, whether it’s more ‘fairy princess’ style, rustic or beach centred, for instance. Once I have an idea of this and find out where the ceremony and reception will be held I can make some decisions. Dress, make-up and hairstyle also play an important role.
days to plan their day because they can see all that Marbella has to offer. As far as destination weddings go, we are very well served by professionals who offer a wonderful service and deliver excellent work that would make the most demanding couple happy. Obviously, while some florists travel to where the work is, having specialist suppliers in situ is an important advantage. Here you can find everything you need: good weather, plenty of leisure activities and, of course, some great restaurants.
Mainly I am guided by the impressions that I gather during the initial interview. I show the brides photographs of my previous work so that they can tell me which arrangements and flowers most closely conform to what they’re looking for. I often ask them how they imagine the day of their wedding, IN MARBELLA, What trends what colours they like, we see next YOU CAN FIND will what kind of flowers they wedding season? prefer and from there we EVERYTHING can develop the design. YOU NEED I think we will continue Personally I love it most a little with what is when they arrive without any ideas being seen this year. Brides are so I can develop those I consider becoming a bit tired of vintage, to be the most suited to their to tell the truth! This year has personality. marked the emergence of the tropical theme but, in terms of Once this is sorted out everything design, I notice that brides are else is comparatively easy to increasingly looking to global finalise, such as choosing the design, where each element of type of centrepiece they require, décor plays a part in the whole. whether they want it high or low, Also, now that the economy is which structure to use for the growing stronger, we might see ceremony etc. more lavish weddings of the kind that are more common in the USA and Russia. Why marry in Marbella? The climate is undoubtedly one of the main reasons, since almost every day of the year offers warm, stable weather. It is especially good when our brides and grooms come here for several
Pol. Ind. La Campana 32, Nueva Andalucía, Marbella, Tel. +34 952 898 722 virginiaflorista.com comercial@virginiaflorista.com CONFETI 85
DIY
Balloons Balloons can be one of the most inexpensive and simple decorations for any party, especially weddings where they seem to be popping up everywhere, so you might be looking for a creative and unique way to set them up. They are a great way to add more style, colour and flair and we love the way many couples are even using them in wedding photos. So simple to DIY, there are many ways you can jazz them up. Add ribbons, tassels, streamers or even floral garlands to the bottom. So today, CONFETI is going to show you how to add a little confetti to create beautiful wedding balloons in three simple steps.
What you will need: - Large balloons in a colour of your choice, but a lighter or pastel colour works best. - Coloured paper - try to combine the paper with your wedding colours. You could even add metallic hints such as gold or silver. - A large hole-punch - A funnel (these can made easily by carefully cutting the top section of a plastic bottle). - A helium canister (can be found at many high street stores and online). - Some ribbon
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How to Make: This really is as simple as ABC!
Step one: With your hole punch (a larger one that cuts holes of around 2cm will give a better effect) start to punch as many holes as you like in your chosen coloured papers. Then gather them all together and place your funnel on the end of a deflated balloon. Step Two: Tip your newly punched confetti into the funnel and shimmy around until the confetti is inside the balloon. Step Three: Fill your balloon with helium, tie the end and you are almost done! Now for the final touches, add some fancy flourishes to the end of your balloon and there you have it! Fabulously simple yet effective wedding balloons. DIY brides, what are you waiting for?
WWW.SHROPSHIREPETALS.COM
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A
WILL YOU BE MY Bridesmaid?
s a newly engaged bride-to-be, excitement is running high as you and your partner enjoy a whirlwind of congratulations and that cloud nine feeling! However, once the dust has begun to settle, your nearest and dearest will start to wonder if they will be asked to be part of the bridal party. As not everyone is patient and friends
woman, the maid of honour, is probably one of the loveliest parts of a wedding. Sharing memories with your closest friends and family that you will treasure forever is priceless.
become anxious wondering if they will make the cut, Confeti recommends a little pre-planning to give you the time to think things through. How – and, even more importantly, to whom - do you pop the question ,“Will you be my bridesmaid?”
Some brides already know exactly who they will choose from day one; however it isn’t always a straightforward decision and can
Being able to count on your bridesmaids and right hand
become tricky if you don’t want to offend anyone. If you are trying to whittle your list down from 16 (although if its good enough for Kate Moss its good enough for us!), here are some tips to bear in mind...
The little picture company The Pink Giraffe’s
Sorella Vita
Sorella Vita
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The Pink Giraffe’s Wedding Designs www.thepinkgiraffes.co.uk info@thepinkgiraffes.co.uk
Sorella Vita
Eliza & Ethan
one
Choose someone that you trust and knows you inside out. Bridesmaid duties can be quite intense! For example, if you don’t have a wedding planner, it’s a huge task to keep the wedding running smoothly and make sure the bride has a fabulous, stressfree day. As well as keeping on top of things such as gifts, organising the hen do and making sure the bride’s dress is looking immaculate at all times, it’s wise to have someone by your side who you know you can rely on.
Two
Go with your family! At the risk of sounding like a nagging parent, your family will always be family and will be by your side for many more memories to come. If you’re
from a big family and struggling to choose, try not to cause a stir by having one cousin and not the other - keep it simple and choose your sister or sisters as your bridesmaids, thereby avoiding a family feud! Remember, you may have to factor in your future hubby’s female family members too.
Three
You don’t need to ask someone to be in your wedding party because they asked you to be in theirs. Don’t ask the college roommate you haven’t spoken to in five years just to return the favour, even if it does sound a little harsh. If they want to talk to you about why they aren’t in your wedding, be completely honest. Explain that it was a tough decision but you really felt like you should have the people you feel closest to at this point in your life standing by you, and there are so many of those that you had to leave out some very special friends.
Four Nowadays numbers don’t matter so from only a maid of honour to 16 or more bridesmaids, it’s completely up
to you. Bear in mind if you’re having a fairly intimate wedding, 12 bridesmaids might look a little overpowering! Your budget is also something you should consider. If your finances are tight, buying suitable dresses can be pricey. Finally, remember that it’s your wedding day and your decision don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Just take time to think things through, go with your gut and propose the big question to your girl squad!
Now that you are ready to go with your bride tribe, the fun part is asking them. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have all their friends and family living in the same place, so don’t panic! From sending a slogan balloon or cracking open a personalised bottle of wine, here are some of Confeti’s favourite ways to ask, “Will you be my bridesmaid?”
The little picture company
Personalised secret colour changing bridesmaid mug by The little picture company
The Pink Giraffe’s Wedding Designs www.thepinkgiraffes.co.uk info@thepinkgiraffes.co.uk
CONFETI 89
Natasha Johnson is an experienced Humanist Wedding Celebrant, writer and blogger on all things related to weddings, in particular wedding ceremonies. From traditions, to breaking them and everything else in between, if you have a question about your big day, ask our expert!
Ten Things to Think About Before
W
Writing Your Own Vows
edding celebrant and ceremony expert Natasha Johnson looks at the growing trend of couples saying personal vows during their wedding ceremony and outlines ten key points that couples should think about before they go ahead with writing their own vows. Now more than ever are couples are encouraged to include personalized wedding vows during their ceremony and many couples are taking the idea onboard, in order to make their ceremony as personal as possible, and to be able to express exactly how they feel about their future spouse. But before putting pen to paper, here are some useful tips to consider so that you are fully informed and have a good idea of what is needed from you.
MAKE SURE THAT YOUR PARTNER IS ONBOARD It is one thing to be brimming with excitement at the prospect of writing your own vows, but it is another thing if that excitement is only one-sided. It’s really important that both of you are 100% happy with writing and saying your own personal vows. Talk to your partner and gauge their reaction and find
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out what you both want from your ceremony. If your partner is more reluctant than you, show them some examples of vows and talk through the ways in which you could do your own vows. Sometimes people’s fear of the idea, clouds their judgment altogether, so the more information you have to hand and the more open you are about what you both want, the easy it will be to arrive at the same decision.
wedding vow is statement of promise, or a pledge of your intention for your future life together with your partner. It is where you will tailor a statement that reflects your love, your lifestyle and your aspirations and goals for the future. Although, vows take many formats and shapes, most vows contain these elements and are shaped around these elements in order to make them into recognizable vows.
CHECK THAT YOU ARE ALLOWED PERSONAL VOWS IN YOUR CEREMONY
WHAT TYPE OF VOW TO HAVE
You may be fully excited by the prospect of including personal vows in your ceremony, but if you are having a church wedding ceremony, or other religious or cultural ceremony, it may be the case that personal vows and individual input are not allowed. So before getting your hopes up, check first that you can include your own vows in your ceremony.
UNDERSTAND WHAT PERSONAL VOWS ARE Although most people understand the general nature of wedding vows, it is really important to be clear what vows are and what the purpose of them are. In short, a personal
Once you are clear on what vows are and the nature of them, you must then start to think about what type of vows and what kind of format you want to give to your vows. Some may think that vows sound like a random collection of thoughts and feelings, but most vows do follow a type of pattern and format. There are vows, which are formatted as a list of promises, there are vows which talk about why one person loves another and then talk about promises and pledges to each other. There are vows where couples make statements to each other, one by one, expressing their future intentions. So vows can take a number of patterns and styles, and so before writing your own,
you and your partner should work out what kind of vows you would both like to write.
WRITING YOUR VOWS Once you have worked out what format you are going to have for your vows, you then need to actually start planning them and then writing them, which can be much easier said, than done! One key thing to remember when writing your own vows is to write in your own voice. What does this mean? Writing in your own voice means to use the everyday language that you use. You don’t need to all of a sudden become William Shakespeare and your vows should sound like something you have written yourself, in your own style and manner.
HOW TO SAY YOUR VOWS Lots of people wrongly believe that when you write personal vows, you have to memorize them and recite them from memory during the ceremony. This in not true. As your brain will already be under a little bit of pressure anyway, due to the nature of the day, it really isn’t a good idea to add to that pressure. Reading vows from a vow booklet or piece of card or paper, is a perfectly acceptable and very sensible way to say your vows. It means your words
are right there in front of you and you will be more relaxed when it comes to saying them. With practice you should be able to read them so they sound more natural too. Try to look at your partner every so often whilst saying your vows, for added connection.
CONSIDER THE IMPACT YOUR VOWS WILL HAVE ON YOU DURING YOUR CEREMONY It would be naïve to think that your vows won’t make you emotional, and so it is better to be prepared for the emotions of saying vows and hearing vows being said to you, than to shy away from the fact. It does not matter if your voice quivers, if it breaks, if you have a lump in your throat. These are all natural reactions to making such powerful expressions of love to one another. The key is to embrace the emotions and to not worry about how you will be, as you will be just fine. Everyone manages to get through with their vows, in the end.
GOOD VOWS TAKE TIME Give yourself plenty of time for writing your vows. They shouldn’t be rushed and written at the last minute, if you want to do them justice. Try to prepare and write your vows in stages,
so that you have time to go back to them, to consider them and to make any changes if needed. If when re-reading your vows, they make you feel as good as they did when you first wrote them then you should stick with what you have written and keep them as the final version of your vows.
YOUR VOW PRESENTATION It’s really important to think about how you are going to present your vows once you have written them. Some couples like to have them printed off on to nice card with stationery that matches the rest of their wedding theme, other buy vow booklets and handwrite them inside. Either way, it’s really nice to present your vows so that they look as wonderful as they sound. Reading vows from a phone, tablet or the back of the envelope is not really advisable, nor does it look great in real-life and your wedding photos.
YOUR VOWS DON’T HAVE TO BE SOLEMN It is a myth that vows cannot contain any humour or laughter. Vows were once solemn and serious promises of commitment, yet whilst nowadays they still are promises which are taken seriously, this does not mean that the promises have to all be serious ones or that couples can only talk about the serious aspects of their relationship. Your vows can be funny, romantic, light hearted, rhyming, or even a rap if you wanted to, so long as you mean what you say and you say what you mean. Your vow is a representation of you and your partner, so make sure that you represent your personalities, your characteristics and your relationship in the best and truest way possible. Good luck with your vows and remember, they are your vows to express what you want and how you feel.
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CONFETI 93
WHAT TYPE OF
Bride ? ARE YOU
1
Your fiancé says he needs a weekend off from wedding talk and planning. How do you respond? A. Absolutely no way!
There’s far too much to do and free time has to be sacrificed if you want the perfect wedding day. B Sure. You’ve organised some weekends off with nonwedding related activities because you know it can get stressful
C You talk to your wedding planner and ask her to take care of any wedding related situations this weekend, so you can take a break.
A. You are very angry and inform
It’s five months before the big day and your maid of honour tells you she’s pregnant. How do you react?
B. After calmly explaining why
2
A. You ask her to step down from
her duties, you don’t have time to find a matching maternity dress and worry how she will look in the photos.
willing to take on her role, you start to look for pretty maternity dresses and even think of some pregnancy- friendly hen do ideas.
C. You immediately call your mum. You know that a pregnant maid of honour can cause some complications, but your mum always knows what to do. D. You’re happy for your friend and don’t even think how it could effect the wedding. It’s only one day, after all.
3
Who is on your wedding guest list?
A. Most people you know,
acquaintances, even the girl from primary school that used to bully you. You want anyone and everyone to see you looking pretty in your wedding dress!
B Fifty of your closest friends
and family. You don’t want people you’ve never met attending your wedding. C Your friends and family, your
Worried you may be turning into a bridezilla? Or perhaps you’re a super chilled bride that could do with a little bit of a kick? Take our quiz to find out which kind of bride you are!
You want to include peonies in your wedding flowers. Your florist calls and explains this isn’t possible as they aren’t in season. How do you take it?
D No problem at all. You could also do with a few days off from all the wedding malarkey!
B. After making sure she is still
Photo by Nani de Perez
4
financé’s friends and family, as well as some of your parents’ friends.
D No idea. You haven’t started
writing it yet.
her that there are other florists. Money isn’t an object when it comes to getting what you want.
the peonies were so important, together you negotiate and find an alternative solution that you’re happy with.
C. You are pretty devastated
but, not wanting want to hurt her feelings, you keep quiet and say it doesn’t matter, even though you’re upset. D. You tell her to change the
peonies to something else. You trust that whatever she chooses will look lovely.
5
You’ve found your dream wedding dress. The only problem is, it’s over your budget. What do you do?
A. Call your fiancé and insist he
pays up! It’s your dream dress after all and you deserve it.
B. You make some clever cutbacks on other items, such as décor and flowers, enabling you to have the perfect wedding dress. C You call your dad to see if he
has any spare funds. You can always rely on him.
D You choose a less expensive
dress. It’s a dress you will only wear once, so what does it matter if it’s a cheaper alternative?
6
CONFETI says “wedding” you say?
A The most important day of your
life, so it has to be perfect!
B Months of ‘to do’ lists and
stress, but you know it will be totally worth the effort in the end. C A perfect day that will make your parents proud.
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D A fun party - and at the end you’ve got a new husband!
You’re a
Bridezilla!
If you answered mostly
If you answered mostly
A
B
You’re a
SuperOrganised Bride
Planning your wedding is the most important thing in your life right now and if your friends and family want to talk about anything else you tend to switch off. Don’t they know you’ve got the Wedding of the Year to plan? You know what you want and you’re determined to get it, even if you upset some of those closest to you along the way. Perhaps it’s time to dial things down a notch. After all, you want all your friends actually to turn up to your wedding and still be talking to you! Take a deep breath and remember, no matter what happens, nothing is perfect. You are marrying the man you love and want to spend the rest of your life with.
As soon as your fiancé proposed you ran out to buy a wedding planner and you’ve been dedicated to it ever since. Everything is planned down to the minutest detail!
Try to have some fun with it and be a little more light-hearted about everything.
It’s brilliant that you have everything under control, but remember to leave a little time to relax and have fun! A major part of anyone’s wedding is the events leading up to it, making memories with your loved ones. So try to make them more fun and a little less military. Everything is sure to go smoothly on your day after all your hard work and remember not to be afraid to ask for help! You’re not superwoman (although we’re sure you’re not far off!) Relax and enjoy seeing all your hard work pay off on your special day.
You’re a
Back Seat Bride! You haven’t been planning your wedding since you were a little girl, but your mum has! She knows exactly how she wants you to look, who she wants to come to the reception, and probably what song will play for your first dance. You’re so worried about upsetting anyone during your wedding planning process that you’ve given away a lot of the control. In fact, you have so many other people telling you what you do and don’t need for
If you answered mostly
C
the wedding that you’re frightened to make a decision of your own. Don’t forget that you can’t please everyone and it’s important to have what you want on your big day too. Try to find a balance by handing out certain tasks so your family members still feel involved, but when it comes to things you care about, put your foot down and take charge. That way you can all enjoy your big day!
If you answered mostly
D
You’re a
Laid Back bride!
When it comes to wedding planning you’re so laid back you’re almost horizontal. You know you want to marry your fiancé, but you don’t really care about the finer details of the day. You haven’t been planning your wedding for years like most and you’ve never seen yourself as that ‘perfect princess’ bride. It’s fantastic that you’re such a low maintenance bride-to-be - a very rare breed - but remember that unfortunately weddings don’t plan themselves and you’ll have to start making some decisions eventually. If you don’t want a big, complicated wedding then don’t have one; keep things simple. Small and intimate weddings are equally beautiful – in fact, they’re even better, as they are less time consuming and come in at a fraction of the cost!
CONFETI 95
DIRECTORY
CONFETI’S ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR THE FUTURE BRIDE
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